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Charles Leclerc unhappy as Ferrari upgrades fail to improve pace

The Ferrari driver says he is maximizing the car’s potential, but it’s still not quick enough to compete with the frontrunners

Emily Selleck Mark Mann-Bryans
Edited:
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Charles Leclerc was pleased with his performance in qualifying ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but the Ferrari driver said his SF-25 still wasn't where he wants it to be.

“I’m not happy, I’m really not happy,” Leclerc told reporters including Motorsport.com after qualifying fourth at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

“Finishing P4 in qualifying is really good, I put everything out there, but for now the performance of the car is just not there,” he continued. “I either have massive understeer or massive oversteer, but the end result is that I don't have enough grip to reproduce what the guys in front do.”

Watch: Was This as Magical a Pole as Max in Suzuka? Saudi Arabia GP Qualifying Report

Leclerc said he was maximizing the car’s potential, but the gap to the frontrunners was still too significant.  “At the moment I feel good in the car. I think I found the sweet spot of the car that matches my driving style,” he explained.

“I feel like in the last three qualifying sessions I managed to maximize the potential of the car, but the potential is just not yet at the level I want.”

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The Monegasque also addressed the upgrades Ferrari brought to Jeddah, noting they didn’t help close the gap.

“I’m a bit disappointed because we had a few upgrades that should have helped but the gap [to the frontrunners] seems to be pretty similar to before,” he said. “[The upgrades] do work, but unfortunately I feel like the others have done as much of a step, which means that the gap hasn't really changed.” 

Photos from Saudi Arabian GP - Practice & Qualifying

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Jennifer Lopez

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Jennifer Lopez

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Jennifer Lopez

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 Academy

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Jennifer Lopez

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Oliver Oakes, Alpine, Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Romain Grosjean

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Zak Brown, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Red Bull Racing pit crew ready for a pitstop

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
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