Charles believes he knows how Ferrari can “annoy” Mercedes going forward.
Charles Leclerc believes Ferrari’s best chance to challenge Mercedes in grands prix is to disrupt them in the opening laps using its strong F1 starts. Despite Mercedes consistently locking out the front row in races and sprints, neither George Russell nor Kimi Antonelli have managed to lead the first lap due to slow starts. In races like Australia and China, Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton briefly led before Mercedes’ superior pace allowed them to overtake for comfortable wins. However, Leclerc showed potential in Japan by holding off Russell after a safety car restart, hinting at Ferrari’s capability to frustrate Mercedes and secure victories. To achieve this, Leclerc emphasizes the importance of capitalizing on fast starts and creating “dirty air” to disrupt their rivals’ progress, aiming to stay competitive when the season resumes. Leclerc acknowledges Mercedes’ significant advantage but remains optimistic, focusing on Ferrari’s own strengths and strategies in their pursuit of success.
