Off the again of some spectacular tempo on the opening apply day for the Australian GP, Leclerc feels that his Ferrari squad is in fairly good condition with the efficiency of its SF-24.
And whereas he’s beneath no illusions that Pink Bull nonetheless holds a bonus on the entrance of the sphere, Leclerc believes that Ferrari can goal a a lot better exhibiting than it managed within the first two grands prix of the marketing campaign.
“I’ll say that we’re in a greater place than the primary two races,” stated Leclerc, who topped second free practice around Albert Park.
“Nevertheless Pink Bull weren’t pushing but, so we have got to attend and see the place their potential is at.
“I believe they’re nonetheless forward, however we’d have our greatest shot this weekend since the start of the season.”
Leclerc stated that Ferrari had hit the bottom working in Melbourne, with little to complain about – and there being potential to extract much more efficiency over the rest of the weekend.
“It feels good for now,” he stated. “We have had a Positive day from the primary laps in FP1 to the top of FP2, in order that’s a superb begin.
Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
“Nevertheless, we have to preserve working very exhausting as a result of I am positive that we’ll see some surprises.
“There isn’t any motive for us to be a bit in entrance in comparison with everybody else tomorrow as nicely, so there may be nonetheless margin to enhance in some issues. However our race run was fairly good, which is encouraging, however let’s examine.”
Staff-mate Carlos Sainz was returning to motion in Australia following the appendicitis operation that put him out of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Though he admitted not being in peak shape, he nonetheless ended up third quickest in FP2 – simply 0.430 seconds behind Leclerc.
Requested about how he felt after his first day again within the automotive, Sainz stated: “Good, thanks. I really feel okay.
“Clearly I really feel drained after apply, not being 100% bodily, however I felt like I had a superb day. And should you would have instructed me per week in the past that I might do the entire apply with out points then I’d have been very joyful. So, I am very joyful for that.
“Clearly, I want a superb evening’s sleep and good restoration for tomorrow. However yeah, I really feel good.”
Sainz stated he had not proven the utmost potential of himself or the automotive on Friday as he dialled himself again in, and feels there may be extra to return for qualifying.
“I took it step-by-step and getting up right into a rhythm, not on the restrict of the automotive and never on the restrict of myself but,” he defined.
“However I believe with extra laps and getting a bit extra assured with how all the pieces feels inside, I believe I will probably be quicker tomorrow and hopefully battle for that pole place, along with [Leclerc] towards everybody else.
“I believe it’ll be tight like we noticed in FP1. I believe in FP2 we did a superb step, however I believe quali tomorrow goes to be extra like FP1.”