Charles Leclerc has explained the approach he is taking to overcome his recent lack of confidence behind the wheel of the Ferrari SF-26, while team principal Fred Vasseur has also shared his thoughts on the Monegasque driver’s difficult period.
From a results perspective, Charles Leclerc has endured a particularly challenging spell. His retirement in Monaco after a brake failure was followed by a costly qualifying mistake in Barcelona and another technical issue that struck just before the chequered flag. The Austrian Grand Prix also highlighted that the Ferrari driver is still not fully comfortable with the SF-26. Even so, Charles Leclerc remains convinced that hard work is the key to turning things around, while Fred Vasseur has made it clear how the team is supporting him.
Charles Leclerc currently finds himself in a difficult situation. Lewis Hamilton‘s recent run of strong performances contrasts sharply with what could be one of the toughest periods of the Monegasque driver’s Formula 1 career. The confidence he displayed earlier in the season has gradually faded as Ferrari introduced several important changes to the SF-26, including the switch to Carbon Industrie brakes. Those developments have forced Charles Leclerc to adapt, making it harder for him to extract the car’s full potential with complete confidence.
The Austrian Grand Prix once again demonstrated how quickly the seven-time world champion has adapted to the latest version of the SF-26. Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, continues searching for the same level of comfort.
Charles Leclerc: “Hard work has always helped me solve problems. There is no secret”
“It’s certainly not the level of performance I’m aiming for, and that’s exactly why I’ve been working extremely hard. Over the last few days, that’s practically all I’ve done: looking at data. I’ve got a bit of a headache, but I’m happy with the work we’ve done.
Every time I’ve gone through a more difficult period on track, hard work has generally allowed me to solve the problems. There’s no secret, so that’s exactly what I’m trying to do.
We shouldn’t generalise the situation by blaming the new regulations. I wasn’t struggling at the beginning of the season. On the contrary, we haven’t had the stability needed to build this season properly because we’ve introduced some fairly significant changes to the car, and I need to adapt to them as quickly as possible.”
Those were Charles Leclerc’s comments ahead of the British Grand Prix. With the Sprint format allowing only one practice session, both the Ferrari driver and the team will need to find a competitive setup immediately and build confidence from the very first laps before Sprint qualifying later in the day.
Ferrari is also expected to face a demanding weekend at Silverstone. The British circuit’s long straights and limited opportunities to recover electrical energy could once again expose the SF-26’s power unit limitations.
Speaking to Corriere della Sera, Fred Vasseur also addressed Charles Leclerc’s recent struggles and offered a reassuring assessment.
“I’m staying close to him and trying to understand how I can help him and why he’s struggling. It’s certainly not a question of speed. In Monaco and Barcelona he was fighting for pole position in qualifying, and last weekend in Austria he started from the front row.
He simply needs to put everything together consistently over several laps, adapt to the new car, the latest upgrades and the new brakes. Most importantly, he has to stay calm. I’m not worried at all. There are a thousand people here ready to help him.”
According to Fred Vasseur, Charles Leclerc’s difficulties are not psychological. However, if Ferrari continues to suffer repeated technical setbacks alongside the adaptation process, maintaining that confidence could become an increasingly difficult challenge as the season progresses.
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