Sunday in Saudi Arabia showcased the talent of the Monegasque driver, skilled in overtaking Russell’s Mercedes at the first opportunity and capable of maintaining podium-worthy pace in Jeddah. Ferrari discovered a major strength of the SF-25 in Saudi Arabia, now ready to receive the necessary upgrades in Barcelona: Charles Leclerc is finally smiling and looking ahead to the upcoming races with optimism.
The Jeddah podium was well deserved for the Prancing Horse’s flagbearer. Starting from fourth place, Charles Leclerc managed to get the most out of his Ferrari, bringing it onto the podium behind Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen. “There was nothing more in the car,” explained the ’97-born driver of Fred Vasseur’s team.
Charles Leclerc gains confidence ahead of major upgrades in Spain
The Monegasque driver’s performance earned Ferrari its first podium of the season, in what has been a very difficult start to the championship, especially given the initial expectations. The third place in Jeddah is a major boost of confidence for the Italian team: Maranello is now preparing for the Miami weekend, with the goal of once again maximizing the potential of the SF-25 ahead of the first developments planned for Imola. Further significant upgrades are expected in Barcelona, for the Spanish GP, where Ferrari will try to close the gap to McLaren. “We can catch them if we bring the right upgrades,” Leclerc told Sky Italia after the race. “Barcelona will be an important step for that, we’ll bring a new front wing there. We’ll see where we stand after that weekend.”
Ferrari has a strength: Charles Leclerc discovered it in Jeddah
While waiting for improvements from the Maranello factory, Charles Leclerc is working to unlock the potential of the current Ferrari SF-25 which, despite its difficulties, has shown an important strength. “We have a strong point – it’s tire degradation. We saw it in Saudi Arabia, the degradation was really good.”
In the post-race press conference, the #16 Ferrari driver continued his analysis of the current car. “It had been a long time since I was this satisfied with the car’s balance. I feel very comfortable with the car and I know I can get the most out of it most of the time, but unfortunately the current potential doesn’t allow us to fight for more in qualifying.”
Like last year, Ferrari struggles in qualifying but makes the race its strength. In Jeddah, the tire management of Leclerc’s SF-25 was flawless. The Monegasque driver managed to extend his first stint until lap 29. “In the race, the good balance of the car paid off. We were all surprised by our pace in clean air during the first stint. It was really good. Everything else too – from the strategy to the pit stops – was executed perfectly.”
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