Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc confirmed that the Italian sides’s improved form in the last few races are the result of several different upgrades which have allowed it to get close and even move ahead of its main opponents, McLaren. After the Austin race, the Maranello team is only 3.5 points McLaren in a close fight for third place in the constructors’ championship, as Charles Leclerc comfortably finished fourth at the Circuit of the Americas, over 20 seconds clear of McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo in P5, a place which Carlos Sainz was not able to fight for, due to an issue during his pit stop.
Scuderia Ferrari also had a good advantage at Istanbul Park, having trailed McLaren on pure pace in the previous Monza and Sochi rounds. The Maranello team Ferrari introduced upgraded engine at the Russian Grand Prix and Charles Leclerc feels the recent improved form is down to the various upgrades rather than specific tracks suiting the SF21 car.
“The differences between McLaren and us are very very small, so obviously when we put the new engine in we gained a little bit but it was enough to put us in the best position possible. Even though 2021 is a season where we are focusing on 2022 we still had two or three upgrades this year that pushed us to perform better every time, so yeah it’s down to the two or three upgrades that we brought this year.” – Charles Leclerc explained.
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On the other hand, teammate Carlos Sainz thinks Ferrari’s upgrades have ensured that McLaren will now have a difficult time in defending their third place, despite the fact that Ferrari’s rival had managed to gain a sizeable lead after their unexpected one-two finish at the Monza circuit back in September.
“I agree with Charles. It’s been super tight this year with McLaren, they’ve had the upper hand in some circuits and I think they will still have the upper hand in some of the circuits that are left this season, but the important thing is we’ve put ourselves in a better position thanks to the efforts back at the factory and allows us to put ourselves in a position to take the fight to the last race. Maybe in Sochi and Monza you would think they were the clear favourites to the end now it looks like we’re going to have a good chance and finish the season strongly.” – the Spanish driver concluded, ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix.
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