F1 News: Charles Leclerc On Saudi Arabia P3 - "One Of The Most Physical Race Tracks"
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc secured the third place on the podium, trailing race winner Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in second. Additionally, Leclerc secured bonus points by setting the fastest lap of the race.
Key Takeaways:
- Charles Leclerc clinched third place in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez ahead. He also secured a bonus point for the fastest lap.
- Ferrari's performance, exemplified by Leclerc's podium finish, indicates their potential as Red Bull's main competitor, following Carlos Sainz's podium in Bahrain.
- Debutant Oliver Bearman impressed with a seventh-place finish in place of Sainz. Leclerc noted Ferrari's improvement with the SF-24 but found the race somewhat dull due to Verstappen's dominance, though he enjoyed the challenge of Jeddah's high-speed corners compared to last year.
Leclerc's third-place podium in Jeddah, starting from P2, showcased Ferrari as the strongest contender to challenge Formula 1's dominant force, Red Bull. This follows Sainz's third-place finish behind the RB20s in Bahrain last weekend.
Speaking of Ferrari, a standout performance also came from debutant Oliver Bearman, stepping in for Sainz following the latter's appendix surgery. The young driver showcased fearless racing and impressive composure, successfully fending off pressure from Norris and Lewis Hamilton to secure a remarkable seventh-place finish.
It's evident that Ferrari's SF-24 has significantly improved compared to last year, as emphasized by Leclerc. However, he also mentioned that the race was somewhat "boring" due to the considerable lead established by Max Verstappen. Speaking to David Coulthard in the post-race interview, he said:
"We had quite good pace because we had the fastest lap at the end and I got helped by DRS.
"Overall, the feeling was pretty good. It was a bit of a boring race because Red Bull were a bit too quick and behind we had a gap.
"But we took the maximum points we could today and that was the target, so that's great."
Leclerc mentioned that the high-speed corners in Jeddah demand a lot physically, but he found more enjoyment this year when compared to last year. He added:
"From last year it's a step better. I don't know why. Maybe because I was on my own, so had less adrenaline in the car.
"All in all it's definitely one of the most physical race tracks of the season. It's warm but most of all for the neck, there are so many high speed corners which are very difficult but it's also fun to drive."