Leclerc Voices Concern Over Ferrari’s ‘Too Much’ Gap in Dutch GP Qualifying

"Unbearable" – Charles Leclerc voices concern over Ferrari's significant lag in qualifying

Charles Leclerc acknowledges the substantial distance between Ferrari and the front-runners during the Dutch Grand Prix qualifying is "unbearable."

Charles Leclerc has expressed that the distance between Ferrari and their Formula 1 competitors during the Dutch Grand Prix qualifiers is "excessive," indicating a true representation of the team's present standing.

During the qualifying rounds at Zandvoort, Ferrari found it difficult to match the speed of their competitors, with Leclerc securing just the sixth position on the starting grid. His best lap time was almost a second slower than that of Lando Norris from McLaren, who secured the pole position.

In the meantime, Carlos Sainz, his teammate, had a disastrous session and was eliminated in Q2, having clocked a time that placed him only at the 11th spot.

"Leclerc commented, 'The lap went well, but regrettably, we're trailing by nine tenths, which is significant given the track's short length. It's excessive. However, as a team, we recognize our performance shortfall and are fully committed to improving.'"

"Regrettably, I've found myself repeating the same points quite frequently over the past few months. However, this reflects the current situation we're navigating. Rest assured, we're fully committed to bridging that gap at the earliest opportunity."

"We're optimistic that the improvements we plan to introduce to the car, ideally in the near future, will assist us in narrowing the distance."

Leclerc notes indications of a Ferrari comeback, yet he questions if the Italian team will be able to match their competitors' pace before the 2024 season concludes.

"He mentioned a plan," he stated. "Observing a disparity as significant as today's, nearly a whole, raises doubts in my mind if we can maintain this till the season concludes, but we shall see what unfolds."

"I believe that this particular circuit may not be well-suited to our vehicle, and the difference in performance might be more significant here than on other circuits, even with the same vehicle."

"Today has been particularly challenging for us, but I am optimistic that starting from Monza, things will improve."

Leclerc anticipates difficulties in advancing positions during Sunday's grand prix.

"Expectations aren't exactly sky-high. It seems like achieving sixth place is the best outcome we can anticipate for this weekend," he further stated.

"Lewis appears to have a strong race pace, which might enable him to make a comeback. However, our own pace doesn't seem sufficient to significantly improve our position. Nonetheless, if an opportunity arises, I'll attempt to capitalize on it."

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