P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Charles Leclerc has accepted he needed to be “better” to have stood a chance of beating Ferrari Formula 1 team-mate
Ferrari seized the chance to claim a 1-2 finish in Australia after Max Verstappen faced brake issues that led to his retirement, marking their first such result since the season opener in Bahrain. Despite showing strong pace in practice, Charles Leclerc struggled with car balance and qualified fifth, behind Lando Norris. Leclerc’s pit stop disadvantage due to undercutting compromised his chances against Norris and teammate Carlos Sainz. Leclerc acknowledged Sainz’s superior performance and expressed the need to improve personally in terms of speed and tire management. Ferrari’s decision to bring Lewis Hamilton on board for the next season has not deterred Leclerc from praising Sainz’s standout performance and recognizing the team’s progress. Leclerc emphasized the importance of consistently challenging Red Bull’s dominance and maximizing opportunities for race victories to close the performance gap.
