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Ferrari’s 2024 Formula 1 campaign stumbled out of the gates in Melbourne, with star driver Charles Leclerc candidly admitting the team is “on the back foot” after a dismal Australian Grand Prix. The Scuderia, buoyed by the blockbuster signing of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, arrived in Australia with sky-high expectations. Instead, both drivers faltered—Leclerc limped to P8, while Hamilton languished in P10.
A recurring specter haunted them: Ferrari’s baffling strategy calls during a rain-hit race. Leclerc’s spin at Turn 11, triggered by delayed pit decisions, epitomized their woes. Now, the Monegasque has dissected the missteps, offering a raw glimpse into Ferrari’s rocky start.
Charles Leclerc’s frank assessment of Ferrari’s Melbourne meltdown
Leclerc didn’t mince words post-race. “It has been a tricky day overall,” he confessed, reflecting on a weekend that began with promise. Ferrari’s pace in Friday practice hinted at a potential McLaren challenge, but Saturday’s qualifying slump set the tone. A bold start saw Leclerc surge to fifth, a position he clung to until rain upended the race.
“For a big part of the race, we thought P5 was secured… Then the rain arrived, and everything changed,” he explained.
The downpour exposed Ferrari’s indecision. While rivals pitted for intermediate tires, the team gambled on staying out—a move that backfired spectacularly. Leclerc spun on slicks at Turn 11, conceding positions, while Hamilton tumbled down the order.
“I lost a few positions after the spin… Then we stopped a lap too late to switch to inters, losing positions again,” Leclerc admitted.
The Monegasque split blame between personal error and team strategy. “There are two things we have to look into. The first is easy—it was my mistake. The second is something we will sort out as a team.” His honesty underscored Ferrari’s dual crisis: driver execution and tactical clarity.
Missed opportunities and McLaren’s dominance
Leclerc’s eighth-place finish, while salvaging points, felt hollow. “In such weather conditions, there was a chance of scoring some big points… which we didn’t capitalize on today.” Meanwhile, McLaren’s pace stunned him: “If you look at the pace of the McLaren, it was unbelievable… We have to look into it, but we are on the back foot.”
Hamilton’s debut compounded Ferrari’s frustration. The Briton, adapting to a new cockpit, mirrored Leclerc’s struggles. Their late-race tire gamble—staying out as others pitted—left both stranded outside the top ten before Leclerc clawed back to eighth.
Path Forward: Calm heads and course correction
Despite the gloom, Leclerc urged perspective. “It is only race one out of 24… We need to stay calm and keep working in the right direction.”
Ferrari’s Melbourne misery highlighted flaws, but redemption lies ahead. Upgrades and strategy refinements are imminent, with Shanghai’s Chinese Grand Prix offering a swift shot at redemption.
For now, the Scuderia must confront hard truths. Can they fix strategic hesitancy? Will Hamilton’s integration accelerate? Leclerc’s resolve offers a sliver of hope: “We will re-motivate ourselves… and recover.” In F1’s marathon season, even a stuttering start needn’t spell doom—but Ferrari’s margin for error just vanished.
