Leclerc urges Ferrari to upgrade after Baku pace deficit

Charles Leclerc said Ferrari needs to bring upgrades to close the performance gap to Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren after finishing fourth in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and described the rival teams as having made gains that Ferrari had not matched. Leclerc said Ferrari had been losing ground over several races and needed to respond with development. He said the team had further work planned but could not know whether it would be enough, given that its competitors were also developing their cars. He cautioned that he did not know what those teams had in store. Ferrari did not introduce updates for the Baku race, while McLaren and Red Bull brought changes, according to weekend reports. Leclerc said the rivals’ upgrades had helped them take a step forward. He also noted that the Baku circuit might not suit Ferrari, and the available accounts do not isolate how much of the performance gap resulted from upgrades rather than other factors. Leclerc started from the front row after qualifying, despite being eight-tenths of a second off pole position, but said Ferrari lacked race pace. He lost places early and ultimately finished fourth.