Charles Leclerc, from Ferrari, joined Lando Norris’s criticisms of the new generation Formula 1 cars after the qualifying session for the Australian GP in Melbourne. The Monegasque, who will start in fourth place in Sunday’s race, stated that the current models are far from offering the fun of last season’s cars.
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“Certainly, they are not the most fun cars to drive. With some work, we hope to reduce this gap a bit,” Leclerc stated.
The Monegasque driver highlighted that, although he finished the qualifying session in fourth place, the performance was about eight-tenths behind George Russell’s pole for Mercedes, highlighting the challenge Ferrari will face to get closer to the pace of its competitors.
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Leclerc also commented on his mood for the first race of the season: “I think it’s because it’s the first race. I’m recharged from the holidays, so probably that’s why. But I hope that very soon we can get closer to the cars ahead. The gap is big, so it will take some time,” he added.
Leclerc’s comment reinforces the perception of most Formula 1 drivers that the new generation cars require more adaptation and offer less pleasure behind the wheel, representing a significant technical and strategic challenge for the teams at the opening of the 2026 season.
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