Charles Leclerc is adamant that Ferrari have made a “step forward” with its latest power unit spec but concedes the team is still behind its Formula 1 rivals.
The Maranello-based squad introduced its ADUO 2-spec power unit at Monza last weekend.
That said, the duo of Leclerc and team-mate Lewis Hamilton were still not at par with the likes of the works Mercedes PU nor the customer engine in the back of the MCL40 of McLaren.
Leclerc, however, insists that the upgraded Ferrari power unit is a “step forward” though the fact that the team is still behind some of its rivals was only exacerbated at a power-sensitive track like Monza.
“I know we always expect to do a step forward [with the engine], but I think it’s a tricky one,” he told media including Motosport Week ahead of the Spanish GP.
“When you put a new engine in [at] Monza, everybody expects us to suddenly do a massive step.
“However, we came from Zandvoort, which was a track that was not very much power unit affected to Monza, which is very power unit affected.”
Charles Leclerc reveals Ferrari made “expected” progress with new F1 power unit
Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur had recently admitted that the team lacked “pure power” compared to its rivals.
However, the deficit apparent between the new Ferrari PU and the likes of Mercedes has not come as a surprise for the iconic Italian marque.
Leclerc himself admitted that the team has a long way to go before reaching this formula’s 100% potential.
But having said that, the Monegasque revealed that the second engine upgrade of the season has delivered the “expected” results the team had set for itself.
“We did a step forward and the step forward we expected,” Leclerc added.
“But as we said, we are still behind, and so the gap there was power unit-wise from Zandvoort to Monza was more in Monza, but not because the engine is worse, just because of the track layout.
“And so yeah, just to say that I think we did steps forward, but we still have other steps to do 100 per cent. We are aware of that and we are putting a lot of effort into it. And yeah, we are working towards that.”
Leclerc has made a strong start to the inaugural weekend at the Madring circuit with the third fastest lap of the opening Friday practice session.
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