During Thursday’s FIA press conference ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc discussed more than just his recently announced Ferrari contract extension. The Monegasque driver also addressed the simulator topic that has been widely debated following Lewis Hamilton’s comments in recent races, while offering his view on Ferrari’s prospects for the Monaco weekend.
In recent weeks, Lewis Hamilton openly stated that simulator correlation had led him in the wrong direction during the Miami Grand Prix weekend. By choosing not to use the simulator ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, the seven-time world champion felt he was able to explore the car’s mechanical setup more effectively alongside his engineers. After securing a podium finish in Montreal, Hamilton explained that he would only use the simulator after race weekends to compare data and analyse performance.
Charles Leclerc was asked for his opinion on the matter and made it clear that his approach remains very different.
Leclerc: “The simulator has always worked extremely well”
“Lewis’ approach regarding the simulator? It does not affect my preparation in any way. Everyone has their own preferences, and as far as I am concerned, the simulator has always worked extremely well.
“It is a tool I have used since arriving in Formula 1, and I have absolutely no intention of changing that. It is an extremely powerful tool for me. We often test developments directly in the simulator to understand the direction of our development programme. It is fully integrated into our evolution process, it works for me, and I will continue using it,” Leclerc explained.
For Charles Leclerc, there are therefore no concerns regarding simulator correlation. The Ferrari driver intends to continue using it as a foundation for his race-weekend setup before refining the car further once track action begins.
Ferrari heads into Monaco with growing expectations, largely because power unit performance is traditionally less influential around the tight and twisty streets of the Principality than at most other circuits. However, Charles Leclerc was careful not to get carried away by the optimism surrounding the Scuderia.
“A lot of people are already saying that Ferrari will be at the front throughout the entire weekend. I do not think it will be that simple. But if there is one circuit this year where I have the best chance of winning, it is here, and I hope we can take that opportunity.
“That said, I believe Mercedes has maintained a significant advantage since the beginning of the season, so they will be very strong. I also think McLaren and Red Bull will be extremely competitive.
“We have struggled quite a bit on the straights so far this year, but that weakness should be less of a handicap here. We can rely on a very strong chassis and aerodynamic package,” Leclerc concluded.
Charles Leclerc’s highly measured remarks ahead of his home race perfectly frame the intricate technical and psychological warfare unfolding at Scuderia Ferrari. By robustly defending Maranello’s multi-million dollar simulator program, the Monegasque star has drawn a clear line between his analytical preparation style and Sir Lewis Hamilton’s instinctive, trackside approach. While he realistically downplays expectations against a dominant Mercedes outfit, his acknowledgment of the SF-26’s mechanical grip strengths confirms that if everything aligns perfectly on Saturday afternoon, the local hero is perfectly positioned to maximize Ferrari’s greatest operational opportunity of the season.
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