Charles Leclerc remains determined to secure victory in Austin, despite Ferrari’s underdog position in the competitive field.
After a brief pause in the F1 calendar, Charles Leclerc has arrived in the paddock at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, eager to get back to racing for what will be the 19th round of the 2024 season.
The Ferrari driver is clearly raring to get behind the wheel again after a month without any Grand Prix action. He is particularly excited that this weekend will feature a Sprint race.
“It’s time to get back in the car, and as always, I’m happy to approach a Sprint weekend because it means the competitive part kicks off straight away with qualifying for the Sprint race tomorrow afternoon,” Leclerc remarked.
Like his teammate Carlos Sainz, Leclerc knows that the free practice sessions and the Sprint race will be crucial in assessing how the updates introduced on the SF-24 at Monza perform on a more conventional track.
“In the past few races, we’ve been heading in the right direction, but it will be important to validate the quality of the work we’ve done. We’ll get the answer by seeing how the car behaves in some of the corners on this circuit.”
“I don’t think the team hierarchy will change significantly, and I also don’t believe we’re going in as favourites. But I do think that if we execute everything well, we can be competitive and have a chance to achieve strong results in the six remaining races. So, I don’t see much value in speculating too much about our chances in either championship—it’s better to take things race by race.”
When asked whether the focus should now shift to 2025 or if it’s essential not to give up on the 2024 car with six races still to go, Leclerc explained that both objectives are intertwined, with work on one benefitting the other.
“I think it’s a mix of both. We’re fully focused on the 2024 car, but as drivers, we also need to think that what we do now, what we’ve learned so far, and any new parts, if there are any, should be aligned with the direction we’re taking for 2025. We’re concentrating on 2024 but with medium- and long-term goals in mind.”
Leclerc harbours little hope of snatching the championship title, but the Monegasque is adamant he will give everything he has until the end of the season to achieve the best possible results.
“I’ll fight for it until the end. Whatever position you’re competing for, you have to do your best, whether it’s fourth or fifth, or for the win, and that’s the mentality I need if I want to maximise my victories. We’ll see where I end up in the championship.”
“The constructors’ title is more realistic than the drivers’ championship, which will require a bit of luck. McLaren has recently pulled ahead a bit in the constructors’, but you can never say never, so we’ll keep pushing until the very end.”
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Leclerc Focuses on Austin Win Amid Ferrari Challenges Leclerc Focuses on Austin Win Amid Ferrari Challenges
