Ferrari’s underwhelming form continued at the Dutch GP qualifying on Saturday, with Charles Leclerc finishing only in P6. The Monegasque driver is not optimistic about Sunday’s Grand Prix and admitted that a podium finish looks unlikely.
The narrow and twisty layout of the Zandvoort circuit makes it a challenging track for overtaking. With the SF-24’s pace significantly slower than the top three teams—Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull—Leclerc is not optimistic about achieving a good result.
After qualifying, the 26-year-old said, “The podium tomorrow would be a miracle. Especially on a track like this. Our pace wasn’t bad, but on this track, it’s hard to overtake.”
Charles Leclerc: “The podium tomorrow would be a miracle, especially on a track like this. Our pace wasn’t bad, but on this track, it’s hard to overtake. But I would never say never, tomorrow I’ll put my helmet on and try to do everything I can.” https://t.co/A5MAbolosG
— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) August 24, 2024
That being said, Leclerc is committed to doing his best to secure the maximum amount of points for the team. “Tomorrow I’ll put my helmet on and try to do everything I can,” concluded Leclerc.
The 2024 Monaco GP winner was not the only Ferrari team member who was disappointed with how qualifying went. Carlos Sainz was knocked out in Q2 and will start the race from eleventh on the grid.
Ferrari have a historical disadvantage at the Dutch GP
Ferrari has lost a lot of ground to its rivals since Leclerc’s win in Monaco. The upgrades introduced have not been able to keep them on equal footing with Mercedes and McLaren, who have become regular contenders for wins.
Frederic Vasseur: We were expecting a tough weekend here in Zandvoort. Last year it was one of our worst races, mainly because of the configuration of the track and we have not brought any upgrades this weekend.
— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) August 24, 2024
Moreover, team principal Fred Vasseur is aware that the Dutch GP layout has never been kind to Ferrari’s design concept. He explained, “We were expecting a tough weekend here in Zandvoort. Last year it was one of our worst races, mainly because of the configuration of the track.”
The Frenchman added that a lack of upgrades for this weekend will also not help the team’s cause.
