Charles Leclerc pinpoints Ferrari weakness in Mercedes F1 pursuit

Charles Leclerc has pinpointed Ferrari's F1 power unit as "lacking" compared to Mercedes', but had some good news for the team. 

Across the first three races of the season, Ferrari emerged as the closest rivals to Mercedes, and led both the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix after fast starts from behind the Silver Arrows front-row lockouts.

However, the Mercedes package proved stronger in both races before the Scuderia dropped back in Japan as McLaren stepped up to sustain the challenge to Kimi Antoenlli and George Russell.

Ferrari currently sits second in the constructors' standings on 90 points, 45 behind Mercedes, having finished third in every race thus far, with Leclerc taking the final podium spot in Australia and Japan, whilst Lewis Hamilton finally banked a first podium for the team, at the 26th attempt, during the Chinese GP. 

On the horizon for F1 is the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) calculations, where, after the Miami GP, those power units deemed to be 2% behind the pace-setter, currently Mercedes, will be allowed one upgrade to the engine in 2026 and 2027.

Those deemed to be 4% behind will be permitted two such upgrades per year, with Leclerc feeling that the Ferrari power unit needs attention, including to its "raw power."

"We are still very early on in the season, so yes, I do believe it’s possible," Leclerc explained to media, including RacingNews365, when asked if Ferrari could catch Mercedes in 2026.

"Is it a huge challenge? It absolutely is, and I think also because Mercedes is not relaxing and will keep pushing massively as well. 

"The points of focus at this moment of the season, at this moment of these regulations, are many. Obviously, there is the optimisation of the power unit, which is probably the biggest difference between Mercedes and us at the moment. 

"Just with the optimisation, you can make a big difference. Then, of course, there’s not only that, but there’s also raw power, which we are lacking compared to them. 

"Then on the chassis, just all the fine tunings that you can think of, that you always pinpoint at the beginning of the season, where you try and understand what the main limitation is that is limiting you. 

"We are starting to have quite a clear picture of what the characteristics of the car are that we need to improve to get better. 

"But I think chassis-wise it is quite a strong car actually, and that’s probably our strength so far. The power unit is where we are lacking compared to Mercedes at the moment."