Charles Leclerc has issued further self-criticism following the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, an event that saw Ferrari take a significant step forward.
The Maranello-based outfit introduced its latest major upgrade package at the Spanish venue, resulting in a marked improvement in performance, to the extent that Lewis Hamilton claimed victory.
It marked the seven-time world champion's first win for Ferrari and the team's first victory since Leclerc's triumph at the 2024 United States Grand Prix.
Hamilton put his Ferrari on the front row and came close to securing pole position, while Leclerc crashed out in Q3 after a costly mistake at Turn 4.
As a result, Leclerc started 10th and was forced to work his way through the field. At the front, Hamilton was already in a position to challenge Mercedes immediately.
Leclerc ultimately suffered a power steering failure in the closing laps, preventing him from finishing what would likely have been a fifth-place result. However, he knows he must start putting together stronger performances.
Discussing Hamilton's win, Leclerc told select media, including RacingNews365: "It's great for the team, and it's great for Lewis. The team has been pushing massively to bring upgrades, and it seems to be working well.
"Now I've got to be up there with him, which hasn't been the case since Canada."
Ferrari's performance left many stunned in Barcelona, with Lando Norris insisting that, if the Scuderia's engine were stronger, it would be dominating Formula 1.
The Italian outfit's tyre management was particularly impressive, although Leclerc noted that its strength was "exaggerated" in Barcelona.
Asked if Ferrari's Barcelona package represented a big step forward, Leclerc replied: "Yeah, I think we took a big step forward with the car, particularly in terms of tyre degradation. So that is a good thing for the future.
"It's also true that it's exaggerated on a weekend like this, where tyre degradation has been so high."
Originally published by RacingNews365 —
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