F1 | Charles Leclerc explains what the team needs to finally turn qualifying success into a race win
Charles Leclerc has shared his thoughts on Ferrari’s chances of winning in Baku, a circuit where he has already secured pole position four times in his Formula 1 career. For the Monegasque, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix represents a real opportunity to turn strong qualifying pace into a long-awaited victory.
After a rather disappointing weekend in Monza, Charles Leclerc pointed to Baku as one of the tracks where Ferrari could go in search of a win. Over the past four years, the driver from Monte Carlo has achieved an impressive streak of four consecutive pole positions on the streets of Azerbaijan. However, despite this outstanding record in qualifying, a race victory has always slipped away.
Ferrari fans are naturally hoping that this will be the year when the streak of near misses finally comes to an end. Such a result would not only end the curse of Baku but also deliver the first victory of the season for the Ferrari SF-25. Yet, achieving that target will be far from easy, given the fierce competition coming from McLaren and Red Bull, something even Lewis Hamilton has underlined when analyzing the grid’s balance of power.
Charles Leclerc clarifies his expectations
During the press conferences that opened the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, Charles Leclerc took the time to clarify his earlier comments regarding Ferrari’s potential. The Monegasque explained: “I said that I believe in it because I base myself on what has happened in recent years. Most of the time we weren’t the favourites on paper, yet we still ended up in pole position. But this doesn’t mean we can win on Sunday. Qualifying puts you in the best possible position to start the race, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that we will have the pace required to keep that position.”
Charles Leclerc went on to add: “That is exactly what we’ve been missing in the last few years, and I don’t think this season will be particularly different. I believe McLaren will be the strongest team along with Red Bull, because I think they have found something that works really well. So yes, it won’t be easy, but there are certain points where I believe we may have a bit more of a chance. I remain convinced that I can be a protagonist.” – the Monegasque driver pointed out ahead of the Baku weekend
The challenge is clear: if Ferrari can finally combine its exceptional one-lap pace with consistent race speed, Charles Leclerc may at last transform his qualifying dominance in Baku into a long-awaited triumph.
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