Charles Leclerc tempers expectations: "Every time we need to reset" | 2024 F1 Azerbaijan GP

09/12/2024 01:21 PM

Charles Leclerc’s best result in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit is the third place he achieved last year. Yet, the Monegasque has many fond memories of this track, starting from his first time in the points (with Sauber in 2018) to the emotional victory he achieved the year before in Formula 2 (just days after his father's death), and his three pole positions in the last three editions. Charles Leclerc has a special connection with Baku, and arriving at a familiar track just ten days after his Monza victory could be a reason for excitement. However, the Monegasque driver himself is the one calming things down.

“We need to reset every time we get to the track, without thinking about the previous race. In Montreal, the race following the Monaco victory, we found ourselves in trouble. So we need to come here with the right mindset and no expectations. Then, of course, I can't forget that this is one of my favorite tracks, I feel particularly comfortable here, but the preparation is the same, nothing changes compared to other races in the championship.” – he explained during Thursday’s press conference.

Charles Leclerc doesn’t want to raise the bar of expectations too high. After six years in ‘red,’ he knows very well that pressure grows proportionally with the anticipation of a great result…
“We are still not at the same level as McLaren and Red Bull, but we are in a position where we can be ahead when our rivals don't optimize their package, and that's what we did at Monza. To be consistently in the fight for victories, there are still some steps to take, and today especially McLaren is still faster, and then there's Red Bull.” – he pointed out.

On one point, Charles Leclerc doesn't hold back—he knows his connection with the Baku track is an advantage, and he doesn't deny it…
“I like pretty much all street circuits because there is a different risk management compared to permanent tracks, where you have some margin for error. On a track like Baku, you can’t afford the slightest mistake without facing consequences, and that's a challenge I really enjoy. There have been occasions when I left some points on the table, but my approach won't change because I believe it's a strength. Our car also has a mechanical package that should fit well with the low-speed sections, so overall, I expect a positive weekend, but we still need to confirm that on the track.”

Ferrari arrives in Baku with a Constructors’ Championship standing of -39 from Red Bull and -31 from McLaren. The numbers suggest that the Scuderia could be in the fight for the Constructors’ title, and Charles Leclerc confirms this but under one condition…
“Yes, there is definitely an opportunity; everything is still up for grabs. But before thinking about the title, we need to improve the car to be consistently in the fight for victory; we can't just rely on a win that also came thanks to our rivals’ difficulties.”

Like everyone in the pre-Baku Thursday session, Charles Leclerc also had to respond to the news that preceded the Azerbaijan trip, namely the Newey-Aston Martin deal, which came after a real hope of seeing Adrian Newey at Maranello.

“I'm not disappointed; I know Adrian had talks with Ferrari, but in the end, he made his decision, and it must be respected. As Ferrari, I can say we've always prioritized the team over the individual, and while Adrian has an incredible track record, I believe we have an amazing group on our side, so I have no doubt that moving forward, we'll be able to rely on an extremely strong team to return to the top.”

“I'm really happy with the structure, and it's Fred's job to manage the team to try to win. I trust him 200%, and I fully agree with his vision. We're in the middle of a growth process, and I'm super happy with how he sees things and how he manages the team.” – Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc concluded.

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