Leclerc threatens McLaren hegemony in Jeddah: 'Don't enjoy targeting a podium"

Charles Leclerc, inspired by the gains shown by Ferrari's new floor, introduced in Bahrain last week, aims a bit higher than a podium for the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

There was more in the SF-25 in Bahrain than the results showed, says Leclerc to journalists at the paddock in Jeddah. "Yes, I honestly think that the podium was possible in Bahrain without the safety car."

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Leclerc's ambitions for the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix are further fuled then by the correlation found by Ferrari between their simulation tools and the track in Sakhir.

"I think we are doing steps in the right direction, whether podium is going to be this weekend or later on I don't know but I think we've got our chances. We've been taking slightly different directions in the last few races, which I particularly like, and if we keep finding gains by going in that direction I hope we can score our first podium."

However, he makes clear that a podium is not enough for him and sets his sights on a loftier goal during the F1 race weekend in Saudi Arabia. "My hope is a bit more than that. A podium is not something that I particularly enjoy targeting for. A win will be amazing."

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Leclerc looks to Ferrari's new floor to give him the edge on the McLarens in Jeddah's F1 race

To do that, he will have to beat the almighty McLaren cars driven by Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, current championship leaders. How far is Ferrari's F1 car, the SF-25, from McLaren's MCL39?

"Two to three turns off." The Monegasque then looks to Mercedes, as the German team so far has proven to be the most consistent of McLaren's pursuers. "Maybe Mercedes slightly ahead and Red Bull has been a bit more inconsistent this year, so it's a bit more difficult to have a clear picture of them."

How does Leclerc expect to clear that gap to the papaya team in Jeddah? He points to the floor implemented by Ferrari in Bahrain.

"I think for the layout of the track, I think we should be doing a bit more of a step forward than we did in Bahrain, which is positive but we obviously still have to confirm that. But I think the numbers that we were expecting from this upgrade in Bahrain were the ones that we saw. And considering that is the case, I think we'll benefit a little bit more on track like this."