Charles Leclerc’s driver coach reveals Ferrari’s ‘main focus’ moving forward with underwhelming 2023 challenger

Charles Leclerc's coach Jock Clear mentions the key aspect that will be emphasized on by Ferrari.

Charles Leclerc’s driver coach reveals Ferrari’s ‘main focus’ moving forward with underwhelming 2023 challenger

Charles Leclerc and Jock Clear

Scuderia Ferrari remains winless after five rounds of the 2023 F1 season. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have failed to come close to a race win. However, Leclerc has managed to start from the Pole position. The Monegasque driver’s coach Jock Clear recently revealed Scuderia’s objective of improving a certain aspect of the SF23 that has affected the team’s results so far.

Clear mentioned the right balance for car set-up and the aero. He said, “It’s always a combination of both. With a new aero package over the winter, we’ve taken a while to find the set-up.” Moreover, Jock highlighted the character of the car that has been attributed to the floor by Leclerc and Sainz. He explained, “This floor contributes to getting the car in a better window, as the drivers were reporting earlier it is peaky.”

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Jock Clear pointed out that the team must fix this issue to allow its drivers to gain confidence. Charles Leclerc has had multiple crashes in the last two race weekends as the Monegasque driver works to gain comfort with the SF23. “We need to get rid of some of that peakiness. That’s probably the main focus at the moment. To make the car a bit more benign so the drivers have a bit more confidence.”

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Ferrari aims to make the SF23 more “benign”

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The 59-year-old stated that the updates might seem small on the surface, but they allow for massive gains on-track. He said, “The changes are quite subtle. But actually, in aerodynamic terms, they’re quite powerful.” Jock mentioned that Fred Vasseur‘s team is working on updates as per the feedback from Leclerc and Sainz. He continued, “It’s just a response to the feedback we’ve had from the drivers through the first four races of the year in where the car is deficient.”

Clear was aware that the development work on the SF23 must focus on providing confidence to Charles and Carlos Sainz as they can push a more predictable machine. He concluded, “All those areas where the floor is moving around a lot. We can try and make the car a bit more benign. That makes it more predictable for the driver.”

Thus, the lack of predictability has hampered Scuderia Ferrari’s season. Jock Clear has admitted that the team needs to deliver a car that gives more confidence to Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. The team has planned an extensive development approach over the course of this season as Ferrari tries to get back to winning ways after a poor start to the current season.

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