Charles Leclerc says the prospect of an intra-team battle with Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton isn’t of rapid concern, significantly as they’re “not preventing for very attention-grabbing positions” in Components 1 2025.
Though Ferrari has confirmed itself able to securing occasional podiums thus far this 12 months, these have been irregular at finest; Leclerc has 4 podiums throughout the opening 12 rounds, whereas Hamilton is but to attain a top-three end in grand prix trim this season.
Each Ferrari drivers spoke forward of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix on their willingness to supply the crew suggestions on the place they really feel it wants to enhance to be in title rivalry, with Hamilton stating that Ferrari is “not firing on all cylinders”.
As such, driving the Maranello outfit ahead is the main focus. Leclerc says that this very a lot has priority in his thoughts for the remainder of 2025 relatively than beating Hamilton.
The Monegasque acknowledged that battling along with his team-mate over the lesser factors placings is of little curiosity to him, and that Hamilton isn’t presently his “goal”.
“It is one thing that basically is within the background for now,” mentioned Leclerc. “You are at all times it in a method or one other, however to be sincere, if you end up preventing for fourth, fifth, sixth, it is not likely one thing that pursuits me that a lot.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Picture by: Andy Hone/ LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
“Then, in fact, after we begin to struggle for wins, then you definately take a look at these issues rather a lot nearer.
“But it surely’s not likely been a part of my… I used to be simply right here to try to study as a lot as attainable from Lewis of what I may study, what may benefit me as a driver, after which give attention to myself with the goal of doing the absolute best job, which implies beating Lewis, however not solely.
“I feel the principle goal of the crew and my most important goal in the mean time is to deliver Ferrari again to the highest. And, yeah, Lewis isn’t my goal in the mean time as a result of we’re not preventing for very attention-grabbing positions.”
Ferrari has arrived in Belgium with a brand new rear suspension package deal, one which it examined on a filming day at Mugello final week. This ensured that any working was solely cursory given the space restrictions on any filming day assessments.
Leclerc acknowledged that there was no actual distinction in behaviour from what he may inform in his preliminary run, however was eager to maintain a lid on any additional particulars in regards to the new geometry.
“We didn’t [feel a difference in behaviour] and I am not going to remark the particular behaviours of this suspension,” mentioned Leclerc.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
“Clearly, these are issues that stay for us and it might be fairly silly for us to remark it globally on what does what. However we’ll discover out tomorrow on observe.
“I do not suppose [it will change how we set up the car]. I can discover the boldness if I arrange the automotive another way. So, if I would like confidence, I am going to go for that.
“However for now, I want to go for efficiency relatively than confidence. It would not at all times repay and I feel we have seen it final race weekend in Silverstone, the place clearly I had my struggles, which had been fairly massive on the moist.
“And I do know that that is the danger of working such an excessive set-up. I do not suppose this may enhance with that as a result of we nonetheless have to arrange the automotive in a comparatively related place with a purpose to extract the utmost out of it. However I am completely satisfied to comply with that path.”
Photographs from Belgian GP – Thursday
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