SHANGHAI:
Charles Leclerc stated Thursday he hoped the Chinese language 12 months of the horse would deliver Ferrari luck in Shanghai after a torrid race there 12 months in the past.
Each Ferraris had been sensationally disqualified from the 2025 Chinese language Grand Prix after the race for “extreme plank put on” on the undersides of their automobiles.
China ushered within the new 12 months of the horse final month and Leclerc reckoned that may very well be a great omen for Ferrari, who famously characteristic a again prancing horse or “Cavallino” on their badges.
“I have been with the workforce for a few years and I have been ready for the 12 months of the horse because the first 12 months I joined the workforce,” the motive force from Monaco advised reporters forward of this weekend’s Chinese language Grand Prix.
“I hope that this 12 months is our one, however we’re towards very robust competitors,” added Leclerc, who was third within the season-opener in Australia final weekend.
Leclerc and teammate Lewis Hamilton got here in behind the 2 Mercedes of race winner George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
“I feel Mercedes are fairly a bit forward in the meanwhile however little by little, I feel we will catch them,” stated Leclerc.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton was a shock winner of the dash race on the Shanghai Worldwide Circuit final 12 months in an in any other case troublesome debut season in an underperforming 2025 Ferrari.
Hamilton is far happier this season, however cautioned it was nonetheless early days.
The Englishman stated it was “far too early” to say if Ferrari may problem for the drivers’ or constructors’ championships.
“I feel it is going to nonetheless be very robust to beat Mercedes this weekend,” Hamilton advised reporters.
“You need to assume the others shall be selecting up the tempo, McLaren will decide up the tempo and the second Pink Bull shall be within the battle as nicely.
“So I feel we’ll simply deal with doing one of the best job we will and extracting probably the most from the automotive.”
