BREAKING: Charles Leclerc Makes SHOCK Ferrari Claims After…read more
BREAKING: Charles Leclerc Makes SHOCK Ferrari Claims After…read more
Charles Leclerc made a bold assertion following the Chinese Grand Prix, stating that Ferrari had the potential to fight McLaren for victory had he not been hindered by front-wing damage before his eventual disqualification.
Leclerc suffered early misfortune when he lost the left-front endplate of his SF-25 after first-lap contact with teammate Lewis Hamilton. Despite carrying the damage throughout the race without pitting for repairs, the Monegasque driver displayed impressive pace, even prompting Hamilton to let him through at one stage.
Initially crossing the line in fifth place, Leclerc’s race took a dramatic turn when Ferrari changed his broken front wing ahead of FIA post-race checks. His car was subsequently found to be underweight, leading to his disqualification alongside Hamilton, who was penalized for a skid block infringement. This marked Ferrari’s first double disqualification in its 75-year history.
Leclerc: Ferrari Had the Pace to Fight at the Front
Reflecting on his performance before the disqualification, Leclerc believed Ferrari had much more to offer had his car been in optimal condition.
“I made a step with the car, and there was a lot of potential, but I was destroying the front tires and had 30 points less downforce, which is a huge amount,” Leclerc told the media, before his DSQ.
“I honestly think we had the pace to fight with the guys in front, and when I say the front, I mean the McLarens. Lewis showed it in the sprint.
“I didn’t do a good job in qualifying, but I was looking forward to the race. Unfortunately, we couldn’t use the full potential of the car.”
Leclerc Downplays Hamilton Contact
Addressing his minor collision with Hamilton, Leclerc described it as a “racing incident” and downplayed any blame on either side.
“I was on the inside and didn’t want to overtake; I was just positioning myself for Turn 3 when I saw Lewis defending from the outside,” Leclerc explained.
“I didn’t expect him to cut back, and when he did, I was surprised. At that point, there wasn’t much I could do.
“But Lewis couldn’t do much either because he hadn’t seen me. All in all, it was just unfortunate that we made contact.”
Ferrari Left to Regroup After Double DSQ
With both Ferrari drivers disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix, the team will be eager to bounce back in the upcoming rounds. Leclerc’s belief in the SF-25’s potential will be a source of encouragement, but Ferrari must ensure they avoid similar setbacks if they are to challenge at the front this season.
