27/06/2025 10:10
Charles Leclerc has offered a worrying prediction that Ferrari's
latest upgrades will not "fundamentally change" the SF-25's
performance. The Maranello-based outfit has introduced an upgrades
package for this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix, to the pleasure of
Lewis Hamilton. However, Leclerc is less optimistic about the new
parts, although does expect small gains to be made. Whilst the
Monegasque is hopeful that progress will be made with the upgrades
at the Red Bull Ring, he has already ruled out becoming as
competitive as Red Bull and McLaren. Both McLaren and Red Bull
also have brand-new upgrades in Spielberg, which could further
split the top four teams. As for Mercedes, Leclerc is unsure if
Ferrari's new package can overcome the Silver Arrows, given the
Brackley-based outfit's inconsistent perfomances. When asked by
select media, including RacingNews365 , how much potential could be
unlocked with the upgrades, Leclerc replied: "I don't know. I don't
think that it will again, fundamentally change. "What we are
looking to do is to do small steps in the right direction, and
obviously try and understand what direction can we push in the
future. "So I expect steps forward. Would it be enough to close
the gaps to McLaren? Probably not, because, for now, they are too
far ahead, McLaren and Red Bull. "As I said many times, Mercedes
is a lot more up and down, so it's a bit more difficult to judge
with them. But I think it will be a step in the right direction.
How much I don't know."