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Motorsport

Charles Leclerc unhappy as Ferrari upgrades fail to improve pace

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Charles Leclerc Ferrari

Charles Leclerc was pleased with his performance in qualifying ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but the Ferrari driver said his SF-25 still wasn't where he wants it to be.

“I’m not happy, I’m really not happy,” Leclerc told reporters including Motorsport.com after qualifying fourth at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

“Finishing P4 in qualifying is really good, I put everything out there, but for now the performance of the car is just not there,” he continued. “I either have massive understeer or massive oversteer, but the end result is that I don't have enough grip to reproduce what the guys in front do.”

Leclerc said he was maximizing the car’s potential, but the gap to the frontrunners was still too significant. “At the moment I feel good in the car. I think I found the sweet spot of the car that matches my driving style,” he explained.

“I feel like in the last three qualifying sessions I managed to maximize the potential of the car, but the potential is just not yet at the level I want.”

The Monegasque also addressed the upgrades Ferrari brought to Jeddah, noting they didn’t help close the gap.

“I’m a bit disappointed because we had a few upgrades that should have helped but the gap [to the frontrunners] seems to be pretty similar to before,” he said. “[The upgrades] do work, but unfortunately I feel like the others have done as much of a step, which means that the gap hasn't really changed.”

Photos from Saudi Arabian GP - Practice & Qualifying

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Jennifer Lopez

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Jennifer Lopez

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Jennifer Lopez

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 Academy

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Jennifer Lopez

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Oakes, Alpine, Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Romain Grosjean

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Zak Brown, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Red Bull Racing pit crew ready for a pitstop

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Formula 1

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In this article

Emily Selleck

Formula 1

Charles Leclerc

Ferrari

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