Leclerc Downplays Ferrari’s Favourite Tag Ahead of Canadian Grand Prix
As Formula 1 gears up for the Canadian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc is downplaying Ferrari’s favourite tag, suggesting it’s a ploy by rivals to shift the pressure. Leclerc, fresh from his Monaco victory, has closed the gap to just 31 points behind championship leader Max Verstappen in the Formula 1 standings.
The Monegasque driver believes Ferrari’s SF-24 challenger has an edge on circuits like Montreal, which demands a compliant car that can handle bumps and kerbs well. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko and McLaren’s Lando Norris have both tipped Ferrari to excel in dry conditions, but Leclerc is skeptical.
“They always say that – whether it’s Helmut one weekend or Lando the other – nobody wants to go into a weekend and hear they’re the favourite,” Leclerc told Formu1a.uno. “So you’ll never hear me say that we’re 100 per cent favourites – and it will be the same for them. You just have to throw the ball to the next competitor. That doesn’t have to be the real picture when we go out on the track.”
Leclerc reckons the margin between the top three teams – Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren – is now so slim that execution will be key to success in Montreal.
“The reality is: we are so close together with these three teams, even with track characteristics like in Montreal, that it is very difficult to point the finger at the Ferrari now. It will be a question of who does the better job.”
Verstappen, meanwhile, has expressed caution about Red Bull’s chances of bouncing back in Canada, citing Monaco as a stark reminder of their struggles on bumpier tracks. Leclerc agrees that Montreal’s circuit characteristics may not play to the RB20’s strengths, providing Ferrari with an opportunity to capitalize.
“This year could be a possibility. I don’t think a circuit like Montreal suits Red Bull’s strengths, that could be an opportunity for us. But it will definitely be close with McLaren and Red Bull, so we have to get the most out of everything.”
Leclerc is also mindful of last season’s wet qualifying session, which exposed Ferrari’s weaknesses. With rain forecast for this weekend, Leclerc is aware that the limited experience driving with the 2024 cars in the wet could shake up the order.
“The rain will be here this weekend and we haven’t really driven in the wet with these cars yet, so we’ll have to see how the respective cars perform in these conditions.”
The Canadian Grand Prix promises to be a thrilling installment in the 2024 Formula 1 calendar, with Leclerc and Ferrari looking to capitalize on their recent momentum. Stay tuned for the latest Formula 1 news and updates as the season unfolds.
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