Leclerc disappointed with Ferrari start

Matthew Scott
Friday 31 May 2019 16:26

Charles Leclerc admits his start to life with Ferrari has been below expectations, but believes positive results will come for the Scuderia this season. Mercedes have won all six races so far this season, with Leclerc coming closest to having broken that run in Bahrain.

Leclerc qualified on pole in Sakhir and led much of the race until his engine failed in the latter stages, allowing Lewis Hamilton through for victory.

Ferrari's team orders, a costly crash in Azerbaijan qualifying and the Scuderia's dismal qualifying strategy in Monaco last time out have them hampered Leclerc further.

"Unfortunately it has not been the start to the season we wished," he said.

"We had quite a bit of a disappointment since the beginning of the season. But we need to keep our head up and keep working as hard as we possibly can and the results will eventually come."

Leclerc was clearly annoyed as he contemplated his Q1 exit in Monaco, but he is confident that team will put measures in place to ensure it is not repeated.

"I think as a team we will have to learn because obviously going out in Q1 has been a huge disappointment," he said.

"It was not our starting position, 15th. We expected a difficult race but we will for sure learn from this."

Leclerc retired in his home race for the fourth running on the spin after crashing while trying to undo the damage, puncturing a tyre while trying to overtake Nico Hulkenberg.

"I think it was a racing incident," said Leclerc. "I don't think he left much space but I clipped the rear on the wall and I think we touched a little bit, that's it."