Charles Leclerc Cautions Ferrari Fans: Monza Win a Step Forward, But More Needed to Challenge McLaren Consistently

Charles Leclerc cautions that Ferrari's recent improvements are "insufficient" for consistent victories for the remainder of the season.

"Are the upgrades adequate to secure race wins through season's end? I doubt it, but we've made significant progress."

Charles Leclerc has cautioned that Ferrari must improve their performance to regularly compete with McLaren throughout the rest of the 2024 F1 season.

Leclerc secured his second win of the season by utilizing a single-stop strategy, outpacing McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

Prior to Piastri's second pit stop, Leclerc was trailing by five seconds, underscoring McLaren's dominance as the fastest car at Monza.

Ferrari unveiled a major upgrade for the Italian Grand Prix, aimed at resolving their issues with car bouncing.

During the FIA press conference following the Monza race, Leclerc advised Ferrari to exercise "caution".

"We need to proceed carefully," he stated. "Following the Monaco race, we've experienced the four most challenging races of the season, largely because the Monaco circuit suited our car's setup at that moment. Similarly, Monza is a unique and specialized track."

"There were plenty of straight sections and few turns. We also had a rear wing specifically designed for this track, which contributed to our victory today. Additionally, we introduced another upgrade that I believe has certainly closed the gap with McLaren. However, I don't think it's sufficient to make us the leading car for the remainder of the season on different circuits."

"We've still got plenty of work ahead of us, but I'm very pleased to have secured a win here in Italy."

Although Leclerc has faced challenges since the Monaco race, he is only 24 points behind Norris in the drivers' standings.

In the constructors' standings, Ferrari is trailing Red Bull by only 39 points.

However, Leclerc has tempered anticipations by recalling similar discussions about a championship bid after his victory in Monaco.

"We displayed impressive performance this weekend, but the situation in Baku might be quite different, and Singapore will also present unique challenges. Therefore, we need to approach each event with a fresh perspective. We successfully adjusted our approach from Monaco to Montreal, and as evidenced by the substantial differences between those two weekends, each event can vary significantly."

"We had a string of three or four particularly challenging races as we tried to figure out the issues with our car. Hopefully, we won't face another series of tough races in the future, and I believe that won't happen."

“However, it’s crucial to remember that both the team and external expectations should remain grounded and not skyrocket after just one race, as this wouldn't be realistic.”

"Have we made progress? Yes. Is it sufficient to consistently win races for the rest of the season? I don't believe we're there yet, but we've definitely moved in the right direction."

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