Leclerc: Ferrari's focus must be on race pace

Charles Leclerc is hoping that Ferrari can continue to improve in order to mount a challenge for the German Grand Prix this weekend, but insists their main improvement must be on race pace as opposed to qualifying.

Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton are currently running away with both the constructors’ and drivers’ championships, with the Silver Arrows commanding a huge 164-point lead over Ferrari in the former.

The Scuderia are yet to win a race this season, with Max Verstappen the only driver so far to stop a clean sweep for Mercedes. Leclerc thinks Ferrari can challenge too, if they can just maintain their power for the whole weekend.

“I am looking forward to Hockenheim. Over the past few weekends, we have made some progress in qualifying. Now we have to focus on the race pace because that’s where we seem to be struggling the most at the moment,” he told the Formula 1 Ferrari site.

Looking at the Hockenheimring, Leclerc is a fan of some of the aspects of the track in Germany, and believes Ferrari could potentially take advantage of them in order to fight for their first victory of the 2019 campaign.

Vettel seeking redemption at Hockenheim after 2018 crashRead more

“As for the circuit, it features some nice characteristics with a mixture of different corner types and straights,” he continued.

“The last race was very exciting and fun to experience from inside the car, so I hope we can have another good one in Germany and be able to fight for the win”

Leclerc has found things difficult since making the step-up from Alfa Romeo (then Sauber) to Ferrari, but has improved in recent weeks to better team-mate Sebastian Vettel, with five podium spots to his name so far.

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

F1 star Valtteri Bottas is a proper Aussie now: New home, meat pies and doing a 'U-ey'

• 1 hour ago

F1 Race Today: Australian Grand Prix 2026 start times, schedule, TV channel and FREE live stream

• 2 hours ago

F1’s new cars in 2026 are how much slower? Australian Grand Prix confirms the brutal truth

• 3 hours ago

Kim Kardashian at the Australian Grand Prix? Sky F1 star told to stop fishing about Lewis Hamilton 'romance'

• Today 17:55

F1 News Today: Newey reveals the shocking truth as FIA announce last-minute U-turn

• Today 17:50

F1 2026 Merch: Where to buy ALL teamwear including new Lewis Hamilton Ferrari kit, McLaren latest and more

• Today 16:55