Leclerc claims Ferrari are the most improved team in the last 7 months

This weekend, Ferrari once again faces the challenge of beating dominant Red Bull Racing. After Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur's statements, expectations towards the Scuderia have only increased. They are currently said to be the only team capable of challenging the Austrian racing team.

Can Ferrari challenge Red Bull in Australia?

Charles Leclerc tempers Vasseur's statements. Indeed, it is all just a bit more nuanced. The Ferrari driver explains that it is difficult to compare last year's races with this year's. "I cannot remember the race situation the year before, but I think I was also starting way further back. I was starting 12 because of the penalty in 23, so it's difficult to compare."

Still, it is a given that Ferrari has taken a step forward, Leclerc agrees. "However, I definitely feel like we've made a big step forward. I think in the last six or seven months, we are the team that has improved the most, and that is a positive sign." Cautiously, the Monegasque already dares to set his sights on Red Bull. "It means that we are working well and we need to keep focusing on ourselves, keep doing what we are doing now because slowly, slowly we are going to close the gap to Red Bull."

Now that the gap has narrowed, it means Ferrari may have a chance to break Red Bull's current victory streak in Australia. Leclerc does not yet rate his chances in Melbourne as high, but he is hopeful for the races further on in the season. "I am more optimistic not looking at the gap but more looking at the overall situation of the team, the way we are working and also the way we have very clear ideas on what we need to improve in order to do steps forward and that's what gives me the confidence that at some point during the season we'll be putting them more under pressure in some tracks so that's what gives me the confidence but for now obviously the gap remains too big for us to realistically take a normal win coming race day."

Leclerc drove the fastest lap at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix on the last lap. Therefore, it seems that tyre wear is not the problem at Ferrari. The Monegasque thinks the lack of speed lies elsewhere. "It's more overall pace. Whenever we put the car in high fuel, we are losing more than what Red Bull loses, more than the actual tyre degradation, which I think was less line on line in those past races."