Charles Leclerc says he’s ‘discovering the enjoyable differently’ with Method 1’s 2026-spec equipment.
The world championship has launched new chassis and engine laws for the upcoming season, which has drastically modified the required driving type – as racers flip to lift-and-coast in addition to downshifting so as to harvest and save vitality – and elevated the psychological workload behind the wheel.
F1’s new automobiles have obtained a blended reception at greatest, with Max Verstappen branding them “anti-racing” and “a bit extra like Method E on steroids”. Leclerc can’t assist however admit it: “It’s not the funniest automobile.
“I imply, it isn’t probably the most enjoyable I’ve had driving a automobile, however it’s the best way it’s. And I discover the enjoyable differently.
“I believe the problem of actually creating this complete new system is, in itself, one thing that I’ve loved, and one thing that I discover very attention-grabbing. In that, I form of discover some enjoyable into simply experiencing various things, and issues that may haven’t labored previously.
“However now that it is all totally different, it is cool to have the ability to assume a bit outdoors the field, and to try to discover different methods in attempting to maximise the efficiency of the automobile. However the precise pleasure of driving the automobile is totally different.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Photograph by: Ferrari
Pleasure-wise, the Ferrari driver has praised the lighter, nimbler automobiles, which higher go well with his most well-liked “oversteery” driving type; the diminished weight is the side he has been having fun with probably the most.
“The burden, you may undoubtedly really feel it,” Leclerc identified. “The automobile is slightly bit extra alive, and the steadiness, you may play with the automobile much more and you’ll have a really snappy rear. Final yr, I bear in mind, with the burden it was slightly bit harder to handle that. I’ve all the time preferred oversteery automobiles, however with these automobiles, I really feel like you may go a bit extra excessive with them.”
However this might be overshadowed by the substantial quantity of required vitality administration, which prompted the aforementioned feedback from Verstappen – and extra from different drivers.
“There’s slightly bit much less of assault, which is what I cherished with earlier F1 automobiles,” Leclerc acknowledged.
“As F1 drivers generally, you all the time need to adapt and to vary your driving type. This yr is extra of a change than we have been used to previously. The share of driving is slightly bit much less. Now it is extra about serious about every part else that you have to consider if you find yourself within the automobile to maximise all of the programs round you. So you have simply obtained to assume actively much more in comparison with previously.
“We’re all preventing to try to put the load extra on the system moderately than the driving force. It is totally different throughout the paddock for positive, and we have all had totally different approaches in… what I want as a driver and what I would favor to not have my head on as a result of it is simply too tough to optimise as a human being, not having all of the senses that the automobile might need. So it is a steadiness, however it’s attention-grabbing as a result of it is a course of we’re undoubtedly fairly concerned in.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Photograph by: Andy Hone/ LAT Photos through Getty Photos
So far as overtaking is anxious, Leclerc has joined the general consensus that it could be trickier, as the facility unit’s Overtake Mode replaces DRS – however as Pierre Gasly identified, what was “seven tenths totally free” will now come at a price energy-wise.
Requested by Motorsport if he had an opportunity to seek out out extra on overtaking throughout testing, Leclerc replied: “We have checked it and I form of share what my colleagues have stated. I discover it, in the meanwhile, extraordinarily tough to get any overtakes, however it may enhance with time in how we handle this type of conditions – however it all the time comes with a value every time you have to overtake, and the value is much more expensive than it was previously. That is why I believe it is very tough to make an overtake after which draw back prefer it was the case final yr. That is difficult.”
All in all, Leclerc is brazenly anticipating havoc to be wrought – particularly initially of the race, because the removing of the MGU-H on the brand new energy models makes it trickier for drivers to seek out the suitable operational window at lights out.
“Sure, I count on some chaos,” he admitted. “As we had been simply saying, overtaking goes to be a giant problem. I believe there are nonetheless many query marks. Sure, we attempt to simulate as many conditions as attainable, however nothing will simulate simply the unpredictability that you end up in when there is a race begin. You aren’t anymore in charge of your line, of the best way you drive, of your velocity traces, as a result of you’re a bit in your enemy’s fingers, however it’s the identical for everyone.
“Once more, there are many query marks, and I believe the beginning is a type of as nicely. We’re working quite a bit on that, identical to all people is, however it’s a type of very important moments of a race, and there could be some shocking issues within the first begin of the season.”
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