That said, the numbers paint a stark picture. As Motorsport.com reports, Charles Leclerc has pinpointed a fundamental lack of raw performance within the Ferrari package following a mixed Formula 1 campaign. The admission arrives precisely as the team gears up to introduce its largest upgrade of the season at the upcoming United States Grand Prix.
Here is the thing about Ferrari's weekends: they frequently flash brilliant speed on Fridays, only to tumble down the order when qualifying arrives. Leclerc is brutally honest about why that happens. It is not down to brilliant set-up work on their part, but rather the engine modes being deployed by their opposition on Friday afternoons. Once Saturday rolls around, the others simply pull away with a performance advantage Ferrari cannot match.
Thankfully, the team's baseline setup work is remarkably solid. Leclerc credits the simulator staff at the Maranello base for nailing the car's balance right out of the box, allowing him to feel comfortable straight away. The correlation between the simulator and the track has been strong recently, which means they do not waste precious practice time chasing balance.
Unfortunately, nailing the balance does not solve the underlying issue. Leclerc firmly dismisses the idea that altering the car's characteristics to make it more peaky would unlock hidden lap time. The machine's core potential simply trails the benchmark set by their main competitors.
Throughout the year, the Italian squad has wrestled with straight-line power deficits after opting for a smaller turbo to boost low-speed behavior, ultimately sacrificing their traditional top-speed advantage. Relief might be around the corner, however, with a new floor, sidepods, and bodywork slated for arrival in Austin.
Wins have been sparse since Leclerc's victory at the British Grand Prix, yet solid results have kept the team moving. They managed to outscore Mercedes at both the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia and the Singapore Grand Prix, where Leclerc secured a strong second place behind Red Bull driver Max Verstappen.
As the championship stands, Ferrari occupies second place in the constructors’ standings with 444 points, trailing Mercedes by 134 points. In the drivers' battle, team-mate Lewis Hamilton holds third with 229 points, while Leclerc sits fifth with 215 points.
