SHANGHAI:
Charles Leclerc stated Thursday he hoped the Chinese language yr of the horse would deliver Ferrari luck in Shanghai after a torrid race there 12 months in the past.
Each Ferraris have 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 yr of the horse final month and Leclerc reckoned that could possibly be omen for Ferrari, who famously function a again prancing horse or “Cavallino” on their badges.
“I have been with the group for a few years and I have been ready for the yr of the horse for the reason that first yr I joined the group,” the motive force from Monaco informed reporters forward of this weekend’s Chinese language Grand Prix.
“I hope that this yr is our one, however we’re in opposition to very powerful 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 for the time being however little by little, I feel we are able to catch them,” stated Leclerc.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton was a shock winner of the dash race on the Shanghai Worldwide Circuit final yr in an in any other case tough 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 might problem for the drivers’ or constructors’ championships.
“I feel it’ll nonetheless be very powerful to beat Mercedes this weekend,” Hamilton informed reporters.
“You need to assume the others can be selecting up the tempo, McLaren will choose up the tempo and the second Purple Bull can be within the battle as properly.
“So I feel we’ll simply give attention to doing one of the best job we are able to and extracting probably the most from the automotive.”
