After a tough weekend in Baku, Charles Leclerc admitted that he does not see any real signs of improvement for Ferrari in the near future. The Monegasque driver endured a bitter experience in Azerbaijan, voicing strong criticism of the present and, above all, of the team’s prospects for the rest of the Formula 1 season.
Following a weekend that had started with positive signs during free practice, the race turned into a major disappointment for the Maranello-based team. Once again, Ferrari was unable to deliver on expectations and found itself far from the front-runners.
“No hope of improving”
At the end of the Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc made comments that left little room for optimism: “Honestly, it’s easy to blame the car, which is very difficult to drive, and I think overall we are at a disadvantage when the conditions are cold. But I also feel that I did not do a good job this weekend.”
Charles Leclerc then reflected on how his qualifying mistake had heavily influenced his race: “The error in Q3 forced us to start behind cars that were very fast on the straights, making them difficult to overtake. I found myself just a passenger throughout the race, stuck in traffic, unable to recover positions.”
The final result – an eighth and a ninth place finish for the two Ferrari drivers – once again underlined the team’s ongoing struggles. Leclerc did not hide his disappointment: “It was one of my worst performances of the season, and I take full responsibility for that. This year I’ve generally been racing at a good level, but in Baku I was nowhere near where I needed to be.”
The comparison with last season also weighs heavily: “In 2023 we introduced an upgrade at Monza that gave us a big step forward. This year, we don’t have anything similar in the pipeline, and I don’t believe there is much hope of making significant improvements between now and the end of the season.” – the Monegasque driver pointed out.
Ferrari now finds itself at a crossroads, with Charles Leclerc sending a strong message: without concrete development, the team’s chances of fighting for victories remain distant. The frustration expressed in Baku highlights the urgency for Ferrari to react if it hopes to turn its campaign around.
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