At the Australian Grand Prix free practice sessions, Charles Leclerc acknowledged that Mercedes’ performance on the track is more transparent and notably strong compared to previous seasons. Speaking after Friday’s sessions in Melbourne, the Ferrari driver highlighted the Silver Arrows’ race pace as particularly formidable, signaling a new challenge for his team as they assess their own competitiveness.
Mercedes’ Strong Showing in Practice Sessions
During the Friday free practice at the Australian GP, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri set the fastest lap with a 1m19.729s time, while Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli closely followed, just two-tenths of a second behind at 1m19.943s. Leclerc pointed out that while the Mercedes W17 showed competitive qualifying speed, its long-run performance was especially impressive, as he himself was more than half a second slower, partly due to some off-track moments.
Leclerc shared,
“I think Mercedes is slowly showing a bit more of what they have, and FP2 we are starting to see where we are lacking compared to them.”
He added,
“They are clearly very strong, especially in terms of race pace. I don’t know how much margin they still have on qualifying pace but in the race pace they seem to be very strong compared to us.”
He also noted the complexity in comparing the qualifying efforts of different Mercedes drivers, saying,
“Oscar did a very impressive lap, but I don’t know also what they are doing between the cars because maybe they might be testing different things between the cars, because Lando was quite far back.”
Assessing Mercedes’ Advantage Over Rivals
Leclerc emphasized that with the introduction of new cars this season, many uncertainties still remain, especially regarding performance gaps.
“Again it’s the first race of a completely new car, so lots of question marks – but on the long run I will say you have a bit of a better picture of what’s going on in the performances of everybody so far,”
he explained. He expressed hope that Ferrari could close the gap, but acknowledged the current standings:
“At the moment it seems to be Mercedes a step ahead and then Red Bull, McLaren and ourselves after.”
Regarding Mercedes’ race pace, Leclerc was candid:
“Race pace, they were very, very impressive.”
His observations underline the challenge Ferrari faces in matching the consistency Mercedes has displayed during longer runs.
Leclerc Reflects on His Own Challenges and Team Strategy
While Ferrari’s pace has lagged behind Mercedes, Leclerc remains focused on improving his own and the team’s performance rather than fixating on rivals.
“I don’t really focus on [Mercedes], we’ve got plenty of things to improve on our car,”
he said after experimenting with a more aggressive setup in FP2 that did not deliver the expected results.
“In FP2 I tried something quite aggressive which didn’t work out, so I’ll be back tomorrow into a more reasonable window and we’ll see how it looks like.”
He described Melbourne and Shanghai as particularly difficult tracks for him, but he views the challenge positively:
“There’s still some work to do. As I’ve always said, Melbourne and Shanghai are probably the two hardest tracks for me of the season, and I always struggle quite a bit, so it’s a challenge. But it shouldn’t be an excuse, and actually I enjoy that challenge, and I will work hard in order to turn that situation around tomorrow.”
Background and Recent Performance Trends
Leclerc’s history at the Australian GP includes winning from pole position in 2022, although in the subsequent two years, his teammate Carlos Sainz led qualifying, including securing a Ferrari 1-2 start in 2024. Last year, Leclerc outperformed Lewis Hamilton during the race, finishing eighth, while Hamilton and Mercedes have now demonstrated an increased pace this season.
Lewis Hamilton, Leclerc’s counterpart and a key Mercedes driver, recorded a lap two-tenths faster than Leclerc’s best during the Friday sessions, underscoring the significant work Ferrari still faces to keep pace with the Mercedes W17, as well as other front-runners like Red Bull and McLaren.
Looking Ahead to Race Day
With Mercedes showing clear strength in race pace and indications of undisclosed qualifying potential, Ferrari must focus on refining their car setup and strategy to remain competitive. Leclerc’s acknowledgment of the difficulties ahead, balanced with his determination to improve, sets the tone for a highly competitive weekend in Melbourne.
The Australian Grand Prix will reveal whether Ferrari can respond effectively to Mercedes’ pace or if the Silver Arrows will consolidate their apparent advantage. How Leclerc and his team adapt overnight could prove decisive in the early stages of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
