Charles Leclerc believes there’s one team in particular who hold an advantage over the field early in the 2026 season.
Charles Leclerc has stated that Mercedes is currently ahead of the competition after the Friday practice sessions for the Australian Grand Prix. Although Mercedes did not have the fastest lap times during Friday’s practice, Leclerc pointed out that their long run pace at Albert Park shows they are the team to beat. Leclerc acknowledged that Mercedes is showcasing their strengths more as the weekend progresses, making it clear that they are strong in terms of race pace. He expressed uncertainty about the gap in qualifying pace but emphasized that Mercedes appears to have a significant advantage in race pace compared to his team. Leclerc’s comments highlight Mercedes’ early dominance and potential superiority in the upcoming races.
