If the opportunity arises, Charles Leclerc will launch an attack.
Lining up second and third on the Miami Grand Prix grid, Chares Leclerc says Ferrari will use a “two-car” strategy to put pressure on Max Verstappen.
At the Miami International Autodrome, Ferrari reclaimed their position as the primary competitor to Red Bull. Leclerc achieved this by placing himself between the Red Bull teammates in the Sprint race.
Charles Leclerc vows to attack ‘if there is an opportunity’
His team-mate Carlos Sainz joined him in that endeavour in qualifying as he relegated Sergio Perez to fourth place.
But while the data crunched hints that Perez could have the better pace come Sunday’s Grand Prix, Leclerc is hoping Sainz can take a rear-gunner role in a two-car strategy as the Monégasque driver dreams of a first win since 2022.
However, the success of that strategy will rely on ensuring Perez remains behind them at the beginning.
Leclerc acknowledges that his impressive performance in the Sprint, where he trailed Verstappen by just three seconds after 19 laps, could be attributed to both Verstappen’s grip issues with his RB20 and Ferrari’s own improvement.
“In the Sprint race, we were slightly closer to our usual performance,” he explained. “Nevertheless, Max expressed dissatisfaction with his car during the race. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the extent to which he improves by finding contentment with his car.”
However, as mentioned earlier, we made some adjustments on our part. We are also optimistic that we have made progress, so only time will tell.
“If we maintain a similar pace as we witnessed in the Sprint, I believe we can apply additional pressure with the right strategy. I am hopeful that this will indeed be the situation.”
“It’s a great chance since we have both cars in the front.”
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After failing to successfully overtake Verstappen during the Sprint, Leclerc is determined to correct his mistake in the Grand Prix.
“The initial turn holds significant significance,” he stated. “Max possesses an impressive race tempo, making it an ideal chance to launch an offensive. However, this is contingent upon the presence of a genuine opportunity to do so.”
This morning, there was a missed opportunity in making the pass. If we are able to make it in the future, it will bring me joy. However, if we are unsuccessful, we will remain patient and preserve our tires for a later attack.
Sainz admits that surpassing Verstappen won’t be a walk in the park, however, Ferrari will make an effort to do so.
“I believe that whenever Max begins the race from the front, it becomes quite challenging to devise strategies to surpass him. However, our best chance at achieving this would be by having two cars on our side. We will give it our utmost effort, fully aware that it won’t be an easy task.”
“It’s clear that considering the latest statistics, the task ahead will be incredibly challenging, but we will give it our utmost effort.”
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