Charles Leclerc has identified Ferrari's weakness riding bumps in 2023 as why he is struggling with his current Formula 1 car. The Monegasque put together a title challenge in early 2022 before Ferrari faded, but hopes of a push in 2023 have been dashed with the SF-23 not quite as competitive as its predecessor. Leclerc has one pole and one podium to his name this season, and after Qualifying third - but later demoted to sixth due to a grid penalty - for his home Monaco Grand Prix, explained what he is lacking with the current machine.
Leclerc's Ferrari difference
"I think it's on bumps especially," Leclerc told media, including RacingNews365.com , of where the 2022 car was stronger than 2023. "If we look at the onboards of the different cars, check my head and it's crazy, it's going from left to right, especially on top of the hill, Turn 3 and Turn 13. "It's very, very tricky. Last year, it was much better and much easier to see the road, so the car will absorb much more the bumps and that was much easier to be consistent. "That is the biggest difference. "I think our last lap, [I was] speaking with Fernando, and we go into Turn 3, 4, and 13 especially, and you’re just like: 'OK, let’s see what happens!' "You release the brakes and you don't see anything because the car is moving like crazy with the bumps. I've really struggled with that, the whole weekend and in Q3, you just go for it and see what happens. "It was a good feeling, whether it was my best lap around Monaco, I don't think so. "I think last year was a pretty good qualifying, but I was also more at ease with the car. But it's always exciting in Monaco, and it always feels amazing."
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