Yesterday, Charles Leclerc spoke about Ferrari’s new floor and shared his expectations for the component. Ferrari arrives at the Austrian GP with a revised floor, a development that has sparked enthusiasm from both Leclerc and teammate Lewis Hamilton. It’s the first significant upgrade since Bahrain, following months of pressure from the drivers for technical progress. However, the Maranello team opted for a cautious approach, delaying any major updates until confident in their direction.
This morning, Dino Beganovic took Charles Leclerc’s place in the first free practice session for the Austrian Grand Prix in order to test what is just a small piece of a broader upgrade package. The goal is not immediate performance gains but the start of a long-term development path. Rather than a sudden leap forward in competitiveness, Ferrari expects gradual improvement over the coming races.
Charles Leclerc’s Comments
Speaking ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, Charles Leclerc assessed the new floor with measured optimism:
“We want to take small steps in the right direction and understand how far we can push in the future. I expect improvements, but will they be enough to close the gap to McLaren? Probably not, because both McLaren and Red Bull are too far ahead. Mercedes, on the other hand, is more inconsistent, so it’s harder to judge. Still, I believe this is a step in the right direction, though I don’t yet know by how much.”
Charles Leclerc’s words reflect cautious optimism. He’s aware that the new floor won’t bring a dramatic performance jump but sees it as an important first step in a longer development process. Despite acknowledging that a comeback this season is unlikely, he still believes in Ferrari’s potential.
Meanwhile, the team continues to work hard to provide both drivers with a car that is at least drivable through the end of the year. This ongoing effort is balanced alongside the ambitious 2026 project, which is already absorbing significant resources and expertise at Maranello.
