Charles Leclerc believes the claim that Ferrari is the favourite at Formula 1’s Canadian Grand Prix derives from rivals wanting to alleviate pressure on their own sides.
Leclerc enters this weekend as the latest race victor having won in Monaco last time out to close to 31 points behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the championship.
The Monegasque has been touted to uphold a car that can replicate that feat in Montreal due to the similarities between Monte Carlo and the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Ferrari’s SF-24 challenger has been able to ride bumps and kerbs better than the competition this term and the coming venue also places the onus on a compliant car.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has branded Ferrari as the leading contender in dry conditions, while McLaren’s Lando Norris has also given the Italian outfit the edge.
However, Leclerc has stated such predictions are part and parcel of F1 as individuals strive to ensure that the spotlight that comes with being favourites isn’t on them.
“They always say that – whether it’s Helmut one weekend or Lando the other – nobody wants to go into a weekend and hear they’re the favourite,” he told Formu1a.uno.
“So you’ll never hear me say that we’re 100 per cent favourites – and it will be the same for them.
“You just have to throw the ball to the next competitor. That doesn’t have to be the real picture when we go out on the track.”
Leclerc reckons the margin between the leading three teams is now so slim that whoever comes out on top will depend on which side executes the cleaner weekend.
“The reality is: we are so close together with these three teams, even with track characteristics like in Montreal, that it is very difficult to point the finger at the Ferrari now.
“It will be a question of who does the better job.”
Verstappen has been cautious about Red Bull’s chances at bouncing back in Canada as he conceded Monaco exposed its long-standing problem on bumpier tracks.
Leclerc has agreed that Canada’s stop-start circuit characteristics not being tailored towards the RB20’s strengths could provide Ferrari with another opening to win.
“This year could be a possibility. I don’t think a circuit like Montreal suits Red Bull’s strengths, that could be an opportunity for us.
“But it will definitely be close with McLaren and Red Bull, so we have to get the most out of everything.”
However, Leclerc has pointed to last season’s disastrous wet qualifying session to illustrate his point on the importance of Ferrari ensuring it maximises its prospects.
“What we have lacked here over the years was a car that was good enough to win,” he acknowledged.
“Last year we had problems in qualifying [Leclerc was eliminated in Q2 and qualified 11th]. We were really good in the race [finished fourth], but we started too far back.”
With precipitation again on the horizon across this weekend, Leclerc is mindful how the limited experience driving with the 2024 cars in the rain could mix up the order.
“The rain will be here this weekend and we haven’t really driven in the wet with these cars yet, so we’ll have to see how the respective cars perform in these conditions.”
