Charles Leclerc says Ferrari was caught out by McLaren’s prime velocity within the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, as he labelled his rival’s versatile rear wing a “controversial” design.
The Monegasque driver was locked in a race-long battle with Oscar Piastri for victory in Baku final weekend, however his hopes of a triumph had been dashed just some laps from house when his rear tyres pale.
Having mirrored on the components that price him the win, he admits that one of the vital vital was the truth that, after dropping the result in Piastri, he and Ferrari by no means anticipated the McLaren’s prime velocity to be as excessive because it was – particularly when DRS was not open.
That’s the reason Leclerc didn’t select to aggressively defend the entrance spot when Piastri made his essential go of him on lap 20.
“It was transfer,” he mentioned. “Nonetheless, as I mentioned after I noticed him occurring the within, I knew he was there. I knew it was a chance for him to get previous, however I used to be no more frightened than that.
“I knew that he may take the lead, however I additionally knew that I used to be at the start of the warm-up of the tyres, and I did not wish to push on them, so I did not wish to begin going silly by way of how defensive I’d get.
“Nonetheless, I used to be mistaken as a result of clearly his straightline velocity was actually, actually robust and after that I by no means had the chance to go once more.”

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24
Picture by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photographs
He added: “I do not suppose on the assaults there was something higher I may have completed. I may have completed a greater job defending. Nonetheless, once more, I did not understand how fast they had been on the straights after that.”
The repeated reference to Piastri’s straightline velocity comes amid nice intrigue over the behaviour of McLaren’s rear wing within the Baku occasion.
As was revealed by rearward-facing onboard cameras, the higher ingredient of the McLaren rear wing appeared to flex again on the straights and open up the slot hole to assist scale back drag. It shortly earned the tag of appearing like a ‘mini DRS’.
Its design has prompted some rival groups to hunt clarification on its design to raised perceive what the bounds are by way of versatile bodywork.
Forward of the Singapore GP, the FIA has said it is examining evidence it obtained on the wing from Baku to resolve if it must make any response.
It’s understood that Ferrari staff principal Fred Vasseur has some robust opinions on the matter, and he is because of converse at an official FIA press convention on the Singapore GP on Friday.
Leclerc mentioned the staff had mentioned the matter internally, though he didn’t want to get too drawn into the matter.
“Sure, [there is] positively a dialogue that we have already had,” he mentioned, when requested for his ideas on the wing.
“I imply, I believe Fred will go on that matter a bit extra into element, however from what I have been informed, it is controversial to say the least. So, yeah. I am going to go away that right here and I am going to let Fred touch upon it a bit additional.”