Charles Leclerc points to ‘raw’ factor Ferrari lack compared to F1 rivals

Charles Leclerc believes Ferrari's current deficit to Formula 1 rivals comes down to lacking raw performance rather than car setup issues. Ferrari has not won a race since Leclerc's victory at the British Grand Prix in July, leading to faded championship hopes. While rivals appear to unlock extra performance for qualifying via engine modes, Leclerc noted Ferrari often looks deceptively competitive during early Friday practice sessions.

Leclerc credited strong simulator correlation and pre-weekend preparation for Ferrari's ability to hit the ground running with a well-balanced car. However, he emphasized that the machinery's raw potential simply remains below that of Red Bull and Mercedes, whose power units provide a straight-line speed advantage over Ferrari's design.