Charles Leclerc on Ferrari's Quest for Perfection in Mexico City

Charles Leclerc is optimistic about Ferrari's chances in the upcoming Mexico City Grand Prix, though he acknowledges that achieving victory will demand nothing less than perfection from the team. Leclerc's confidence is buoyed by recent podium finishes in Singapore and Austin, but he remains realistic about the challenge posed by Mercedes and Red Bull.

During a media session in Mexico City, Leclerc remarked, "It's getting very close and we have good momentum with Singapore and Austin. We have maximised our potential and I was relatively happy with the pace we've shown." Despite this optimism, he candidly stated, "Whether we are the favourites this weekend, I don't fully agree, I think Mercedes remain the favourites wherever we go. I think Red Bull are very strong recently, but if we maximise everything we have, then I hope it can be a great weekend for us."

Leclerc has only secured one victory this season, at the British Grand Prix in July, and is still chasing his first pole position, a surprising statistic given his reputation as one of the sport's top qualifiers. He highlighted qualifying as a critical area for improvement, noting that Ferrari's car requires precise conditions to perform at its best.

"We've got a strong car but a car that is very sensitive whenever we get off the optimum window," Leclerc explained. "We've paid a little bit the price recently in Q3, particularly when the track temperatures are going down. We just struggle a bit more compared to the others to just keep everything in the right window." This issue, he noted, cost them a potential front row start in Austin.

Leclerc acknowledged that Ferrari is aware of this limitation and is focused on addressing it. However, he admitted the solution might not be immediate, stating, "Whether we have the solution short-term I'm not sure, but at least it's a point of focus and something that we'll make sure to try and get as right as possible coming Saturday here."

As the weekend unfolds, Leclerc and Ferrari will be aiming to capitalize on their recent form while tackling the formidable competition from Mercedes and Red Bull. The path to victory in Mexico City is clear: perfection is not just the goal, but the requirement.