Charles Leclerc has outlined that Ferrari is pushing hard to accelerate upgrades to its 2024 Formula 1 car as the team strives to reduce the current deficit to Red Bull.
Ferrari’s success in creating a more benign base with its overhauled SF-24 has seen it emerge as Red Bull’s closest competitor in the nascent stages of the campaign.
The Italian marque has been present on the podium in all four rounds to date, with Carlos Sainz capitalising on Max Verstappen retiring in Australia to lead a Ferrari 1-2.
However, Verstappen rebounded from that non-finish with a dominant outing in Japan as he wound up 20 seconds clear of the closest non-Red Bull car, Sainz’s Ferrari.
Despite the strides it has made compared to last term in race trim, Leclerc has admitted Ferrari retains shortfalls that it must address to transition into title contenders.
“There are always weaknesses on a car, and things to improve for sure,” Leclerc said ahead of the Japan weekend. “So it’s very clear for us where we need to improve.
“I think just the overall package needs to be faster, and that’s eventually the goal for everybody, especially in the race, which they [Red Bull] have the predictability of the car, especially when you use the tyres, because when you use the tyres, normally the weaknesses of the car comes out bigger.
“So in qualifying, when the tyres are new, we are pretty close to Red Bull.
“In some of the tracks, especially high-degradation tracks, we struggle a bit more once the tyres are used.
“So we need to still improve on the predictability, and then I hope we can do the step required in order to beat Red Bull.”
Ferrari’s first substantial upgrade package is rumoured to arrive at Imola next month, but the Maranello-based squad did introduce some minor new parts at Suzuka.
Leclerc has divulged that Ferrari is attempting to whittle down the anticipated lead time on developments as the earlier it can bring new parts will boost its prospects.
Asked when Ferrari was expected to bring further updates to its 2024 package, Leclerc answered: “I don’t think I can say when we will bring the upgrades.
“However, what I can say is that it changes also based on what we try in the wind tunnel, and obviously as well we are trying to squeeze as much as possible the times to produce those parts for it to be as early as possible in the season. Obviously, every race we gain, that’s a potential point that we are gaining as well.
“So we are pushing to have them as early as possible in the season. When? I cannot answer.”
Ferrari heads into this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix in a comfortable second position in the Constructors’ Championship, 21 points behind Red Bull at the summit.
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