Leclerc says Ferrari drivers ‘passengers’ as tough end to year beckons

Charles Leclerc is preparing himself for a tough end to the Formula 1 season as he feels the Ferrari drivers are “passengers” in the current car.

Ferrari narrowly missed out on winning last year’s constructors’ championship at the final round of the season, but has been unable to build on that form. Currently sitting third in the standings, Ferrari is the only team out of the top four that is yet to win a grand prix this year, and Leclerc says his sixth place in the Singapore Grand Prix is likely to be the type of result that endures across the final six rounds.

“Unfortunately, we don't have the race car to fight with the guys in front,” Leclerc said. “McLaren always had the same gap on us compared to the beginning of the year. Red Bull did a step from Monza and the same level of McLaren. Mercedes now is at the same level of McLaren and Red Bull, and then there's us.

“It’s not easy, obviously, because you want to fight for better positions. But at the moment, it just feels like we are kind of passengers to the car and we cannot extract much more.

“I don't think there will be anything special. The picture we've seen is going to be what the rest of the season looks like for us.”

With Ferrari only eight points clear of fourth-placed Red Bull in the standings, Leclerc admits the drop in competitiveness compared to last year has been tough to handle, but insists he uses that as a driving force to try and improve matters in future.

“I wouldn't describe it as the most difficult. I think every time you don't fight for wins, it's difficult. But obviously coming from a year like last year, where you are fighting for the world constructors’ championship, and then... you have to lower your expectations from the beginning, and you don't even see a progression throughout the year. It's not easy.

“It takes a lot of energy, but that doesn't demotivate me. It motivates me, if anything, much more to try and turn the situation around. But it's very tough, especially after a race like [Singapore], where you are not even fighting for a podium, you have to manage lots of issues. It's just not a nice feeling.”