P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Charles Leclerc fears Ferrari is lagging behind Mercedes when it comes to race pace.
Charles Leclerc acknowledges that Mercedes appears to have a competitive edge over the rest of the Formula 1 field at the Australian Grand Prix.
Despite a strong performance from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in Friday practice, Leclerc believes Mercedes is showing strength, particularly in race pace.
Leclerc noted Mercedes’ impressive performance in race-distance runs during FP2 and suggests they are currently the team to beat.
While Mercedes has downplayed its pre-season favorite status, Leclerc believes they have justified the billing with their strong showing.
Leclerc admits to still learning how to optimize Ferrari’s new car setup, especially at challenging tracks like Melbourne.
