Ferrari boss explains why Leclerc's difficult run is no cause for concern

The Monegasque crashed in the closing stages of the Monaco Grand Prix, although the brake issues he had been struggling with, combined with the cracked track surface, certainly did little to help. That setback was followed by a qualifying mistake in Barcelona that left him starting only tenth on the grid, before a technical failure in the race dealt another major blow, forcing him into a second consecutive retirement and leaving him with another costly zero points finish that is now beginning to weigh heavily on his championship campaign.

Despite that, speaking to GPBlog among other media, the Frenchman insisted he is far more encouraged by Leclerc’s current situation than he was just a few weeks ago. Vasseur pointed to the Monegasque’s improved confidence and stronger feeling with the car, highlighting that he had the pace to fight at the front. He also noted that starting from tenth on the grid and an unfortunate sequence of strategic events during the race made life more difficult for Leclerc, particularly after pitting shortly before the safety car.

Charles Leclerc was left frustrated after Ferrari’s encouraging progress in Barcelona failed to translate into a strong result, with a technical issue forcing him out of the race and overshadowing what had otherwise been a positive weekend for the team. Starting from tenth on the grid after a disappointing qualifying session, the Monegasque acknowledged that his position on Saturday had already compromised his chances of fighting further up the order.

Leclerc also felt Ferrari’s race strategy may not have been the optimal one, although he admitted it would not have made a significant difference to the final outcome. The decisive blow came later in the race when a power steering failure brought his afternoon to a premature end. Despite the setback, Leclerc took positives from Ferrari’s latest upgrades, which appeared to deliver the expected gains and played a key role in Hamilton’s victory. He welcomed the result for both the team and his team-mate, while recognising that his own performances have not matched Hamilton’s level since the Canadian Grand Prix.

Looking ahead, Leclerc said he felt more comfortable with the car, particularly under braking, and believes Ferrari made genuine progress throughout the Barcelona weekend. After a difficult run of results, he now hopes to reset, put the disappointment behind him and return stronger at the next race.