Charles Leclerc admits closing the ‘big margin’ to Red Bull will be difficult

Charles Leclerc reckoned that bridging the gap to Red Bull would be a challenge for Ferrari.

Charles Leclerc admits closing the ‘big margin’ to Red Bull will be difficult

Charles Leclerc (image via The Sportrush)

Scuderia Ferrari finished runner-up in the standings behind Red Bull in 2022. The Italian team was hoping to topple the reigning world champions this season. However, Max Verstappen has continued to dominate the sport in 2023 with Ferrari failing to bridge the gap to the Milton Keynes-based team. Now Charles Leclerc has accepted that it would be a challenging task to close up to Red Bull Racing.

The Monegasque recently mentioned that Maranello is working extensively on matching the Austrian team in the second half of the season. Ferrari has brought major upgrades throughout this season with a new sidepod concept that resembles that of the RB-19. However, Charles Leclerc admitted that it is an uphill task as Red Bull enjoy a massive lead over the Prancing Horse.

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The 25-year-old hinted that it could even be tough for rivals to catch Red Bull before the new regulations that will be introduced in 2026. He said, “That is what we are trying to work towards. But they have a very big margin and it is going to be difficult to catch them before the change of regulations.” Currently, the Milton Keynes-based team has scored double the points scored by second-placed Mercedes.

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Charles Leclerc and Ferrari need to perform

Charles Leclerc at the F1 Australian GP
Charles Leclerc at the F1 Australian GP (image via News18)

Leclerc was seen as the prime opponent to Max Verstappen this season after a failed title bid in 2022. Unfortunately, things have not gone as planned for the Monegasque driver with Ferrari being nowhere in terms of race pace. The 25-year-old has not won a single race so far this season. However, Charles Leclerc took pole at the Azerbaijan GP.

As F1 returns after the summer break, pressure will be on Leclerc and Ferrari to perform. The Italian team will need to reclaim its position as the second-fastest team with rivals such as Mercedes and McLaren making gains. The 25-year-old has been rumored to be in contact with other teams to potentially leave Maranello after 2024. Subsequently, The Monegasque needs to be reassured of Ferrari’s operations if the team wants to keep him for the future.

Thus, Charles Leclerc has made it clear that the Scuderia will have a hard time catching up to Red Bull. Ferrari fell far behind Milton Keynes at the start of the 2023 season. Although, Maranello has taken steps forward in bridging the gap to the reigning world champions. It remains to be seen if Leclerc can challenge Verstappen for race wins soon.

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