Charles Leclerc has refuted a number of claims made against Ferrari in the media, stating that they are “90 per cent untrue”.
Ferrari endured a difficult season-opening grand prix in Bahrain, with Leclerc retiring from third with a mechanical issue.
After the race, reports in Italian media suggested that the team was in a crisis mode with several key staff members unhappy with the situation.
It was also rumoured that the team’s race director Laurent Mekies was due to depart the team.
Speaking ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc says that the situation was greatly exaggerated.
“There have been loads of rumours around the team, which, for once, 90 per cent of them were completely unfounded,” he said.
“So yeah, I don’t know from where it is coming from, and to be honest, I don’t want to spend even any energy on trying to find from where it’s coming from. We just need to be on it and focused our ourselves.”
Leclerc added that it was “absolutely untrue” that he sought a personal meeting with Ferrari chairman John Elkann for reassurances.
In Bahrain, Leclerc’s team-mate Carlos Sainz missed out on a podium finish after he was overtaken by Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
Despite appearing to possess the third fastest car in race trim, Sainz asserts that the situation at Ferrari is much better than what is being portrayed.
“It is a lot better than what the news makes it sound like,” he said.
“Because when you look back at this last week and how many rumours there’s been around it seems like the place is not in a great moment.
“But I can tell you, it is so clear to us what we need to improve, how we need to do it, and what are the short, medium and long term targets that I actually am very surprised how some people back at home have been trying to destabilise a bit the team.
“Because some call it a crisis; we’ve only done one race. It’s impossible to judge the performance in this race.
“We are the first ones that are not happy with how this first race went and we are the most bothered about it. And we are the most affected by it.
“We are going to try as much as possible to try and improve it. So yeah, I’m pretty calm about it and I see people at home committed, focused and with a very clear target in mind, and I include myself in it.”
