Charles Leclerc considers Red Bull Racing to be the favorites for the first stage of the season in Bahrain. The Monegasque is optimistic, however, as pre-season tests showed that the new Ferrari SF-24 is more efficient than last year.
“My first feeling is that Red Bull is still slightly ahead of the rest, but that we have a more competitive car compared to last year,” Charles Leclerc said in Bahrain on Wednesday. – I remember how after the pre-season testing in 2023 it was difficult to understand in which direction to go further, because the car was very unstable. It was very difficult for us to determine what her weaknesses were.
This year it’s a completely different story. We know exactly where we need to improve and what the car’s weak points are. All this gives the team more hope for the development of the SF-24. There is still a lot of work to be done, but I am confident that we have taken a step forward in working with rubber.”
In January it was announced that Leclerc had signed a new multi-year contract with Ferrari. In Bahrain, Charles explained that he has taken this step because he believes that in the Scuderia he has the best chance of winning the championship: “On the track I let my instincts take over, but when it comes to a contract , a rational approach emerges.
I love Ferrari and am very grateful for everything the team has done for me since I was in GP3. They believed in me, gave me the opportunity to make my debut in Formula 1 and then switch to Ferrari.
However, the project behind it has to make sense, because if I believe in the project, it motivates me more as a racer. Before signing the contract, I asked myself if I really thought this team was my best option to win the title in the coming years.”
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
