19 May 2024 , 19:24
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Charles Leclerc was left baffled after struggling to match Max Verstappen and Lando Norris on Imola's long main straight.
Ferrari brought a significant upgrade package to the first of their two home races of the year. And Red Bull were worried that the Scuderia would be able to take the fight to them on track as a result.
Leclerc and team-mate Carlos Sainz looked strong in practice, but underwhelmed slightly in qualifying. And the best the Monegasque could manage in the Grand Prix was to hold on to third place to at least secure a spot on the podium.
"All-in-all, I think the race pace today was quite strong," said Leclerc after the race. But he went on to suggest the two drivers who beat him had an advantage in a straight line which prevented him from catching.
He said: "We lacked a bit yesterday in qualifying. After looking, we missed on the front straight, especially - which we'll look into - but on the rest of the lap, we were quick. So it's looking good for the rest of the season.
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"I think our race pace is very, very strong. I'm more optimistic than yesterday looking back at the qualifying because this is where I think we are lacking on a weekend like this.
"What makes me optimistic is that if I look back at the data, I thought we were losing in turn two, three, four, which would have been tyre related again. But it wasn't the case. We lost everything in the straights, and they are doing something weird with the energy, engine-wise, McLaren and Red Bull."
"We've got to look into it but [it's] nothing that is not possible to change. So, we'll look into that and once we fix that, I think we've got a real shot of going back on the top step for the podium."
Sainz finished fifth having been undercut by Oscar Piastri in the pit lane. Boss Frederic Vasseur admitted: "It would have been better to stop before Piastri, but we were also worried about the second stint. At one point Carlos wanted to extend the stop a little longer, but it is what it is."
The Frenchman estimated that the upgrades had brought one-tenth of a second of performance and added: "It's a process and you try to improve in all areas, not just aerodynamically . Step by step we are trying to do our job, but McLaren and Red Bull are doing exactly the same . It's a kind of race to see who improves the most."