Charles Leclerc is up to now the one non-Pink Bull driver to snare a pole place this season, with the Monegasque topping each Friday and Saturday dash shootouts in Azerbaijan.
He was additionally solely 0.292s adrift of pole within the Bahrain opener earlier than he retired with an influence unit failure after which 0.155s brief in Saudi Arabia qualifying previous to serving a grid penalty.
However Ferrari has solely scored one podium this time period, courtesy of Leclerc in Baku and its highest-place driver has completed on common 30.85s behind the race winner throughout the primary 5 rounds.
Ferrari driver coach Jock Clear says this unfold will be defined by reigning constructors’ champion Pink Bull leaving the door open in qualifying as a trade-off to maximise race tempo.
Requested to elucidate the comparative Ferrari drop off over an extended stint, Clear mentioned: “We have now understanding of the place the problems lie. It is quantifying it.
“So, in some methods, we’d say, ‘OK, we’re taking a look at what is going on on within the race in comparison with what is going on on qualifying’. We are able to see some variations.
“Perhaps what we won’t fairly align is how these variations end up. That’s the method that we’re going by way of in the mean time, [it] is to determine what we will do, or what we will shift round by way of our focus, to perhaps deliver that race tempo again into line.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23
Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Clear reckons Ferrari might need to observe the lead of Pink Bull by sacrificing a few of its one-lap efficiency with the intention to enhance its race day displaying.
He continued: “Do we’ve to take a success in qualifying? That is all the time a really tough tablet to swallow as a result of races are fairly often made in qualifying.
“So, we won’t afford to take our eye off the qualifying ball. However actually, we have to totally perceive how we will get the race tempo.
“We have now to take our hat off to the Pink Bull and say they’re doing one thing very, very intelligent. That automobile works very, very properly in race tempo.
“We would additionally conclude that to take action, perhaps they’re giving up some qualifying tempo.
“That is why we will compete with them as a result of they don’t seem to be optimum in qualifying.”
Requested to determine the place Pink Bull was leaving Ferrari behind, Clear mentioned: “They’re very, very fast alongside the straights, particularly when the DRS is open.
“Once more, we’ve to have a look at that, see what we will do higher to shed that drag, as a result of that’s free lap time.
“The motive force would not have to make use of an excessive amount of talent to get from [one turn to another] as quick as attainable. That is clearly an space the place they have been very fast.”
