Charles Leclerc plans to fight at the front at Suzuka
Currently second in the championship, the Ferrari driver is confident to see his team battle with Red Bull in Japan.
Charles Leclerc is following a perfectly linear progression since the beginning of this 2024 F1 season. Fourth in Bahrain, third in Jeddah and finally second in Melbourne. If this sequence were to continue, the Monegasque would be declared the winner of the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday. Formula 1 not being an exact science, the current second-place holder in the championship knows he will have to battle to win his first Grand Prix in two years.
« I think we can be satisfied with our start to the championship. However, we must not let go and keep working hard,” the 26-year-old driver said in the Suzuka paddock.
Grateful to his team, Leclerc knows that everything will have to be maximized to renew the results obtained during the last race in Australia.
The team did a great job in Maranello during the winter, because the SF-24 is clearly a real step forward compared to last year’s car. We achieved good results in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and then, when our rivals encountered difficulties in Australia, we managed to get the best possible result as a team. I haven’t won yet, so that is my short-term goal. I think we need to maximize our potential.
With the double in Melbourne, Ferrari proved that it was Red Bull’s number one rival at the start of the season. Struggling down under, the Austrian team will want to bounce back in Japan and move forward. At least, that’s what Leclerc thinks.
(English) « I think that on a circuit like Suzuka, Red Bull will be very competitive. In Australia, they suffered from graining on the front tires and I don’t think that will be the case here. Nevertheless, on our side, it will be vital to stay focused on ourselves and to take advantage of every opportunity that arises. We aim to fight at the front so let’s see what result we can bring home.
After three races, Leclerc is currently second in the championship, just four points behind leader Max Verstappen. Same position and same gap for Ferrari among the constructors compared to Red Bull.
