Leclerc patient over Ferrari power unit gains

Charles Leclerc has remained coy over the prospects of Ferrari joining the battle for race wins this season upon the arrival of a new power unit.

The Scuderia finished an ignominious sixth in the constructors' standings last season as an underpowered engine underlined other minor issues to leave the team well off the pace of its rivals.

The power unit was a key factor in Ferrari's inability to score podiums in 2020 and whilst Leclerc is optimistic a step forward has been made, he remains cautious about the scale of the Scuderia's progress.

"I think it's very difficult to answer that one before the first race," said the Monegasque.

"For sure, it looks like quite a good step, and there has been a lot of work here. We've been here [in Maranello] with Carlos since the beginning of the season, pushing quite a lot and seeing the improvements of the car.

"For now, it always looks positive on paper, but then we need to see what the others have done as a step and where we are compared to them.

"I am confident the team is giving its best and we need now to understand, and we will only understand at the first race only."

Leclerc will be partnered by Carlos Sainz for the first time this year, with the former McLaren driver hoping the move will boost his chances of becoming world champion.

The Spaniard echoed the thoughts of his new team-mate, although expressed how impressed he had been with the work the team had done to claw back the margin over winter.

"Right now, honestly, it's impossible to know," Sainz added.

"We know what we have done, we know what our simulations say, where we should be in terms of top speed and drag and power etcetera.

"We obviously have all those numbers but without the numbers of our competitors in front of us it's almost impossible to predict where that is going to put us.

"I'm happy and proud with the efforts of the whole team. We're making good progress but until we see what our rivals have done then it's going to be impossible to know if it's enough or not."

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