Leclerc warns of 'cold challenge' for Ferrari in Las Vegas
Charles Leclerc is cautiously optimistic about Ferrari's prospects for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, but warns that the Scuderia’s progress in tyre management might be a double-edged sword in next week's event.
After struggling in 2023 with chronic tyre degradation, the Italian outfit has made significant strides this season to strengthen the durability of its tyres, and therefore its race pace and consistency.
While Ferrari enjoyed a productive weekend in Las Vegas a year ago, with Leclerc and Carlos Sainz locking out the front row in qualifying, the low temperatures in force that weekend greatly mitigated the Scuderia’s degradation issues.
Leclerc fears this might not be the case this time, given Ferrari’s newfound ability to quickly bring its tyres up to the optimal working temperatures.
"We were very strong last year, so I hope we can be as strong," he told the media in Brazil last time out.
"It is true also, and I was thinking about that earlier, that this year we've done a big step in tyre management, which means that we also left something behind in cold conditions and tyre temperatures just like today [at Sao Paulo] was. Las Vegas is a bit of that scenario as well.
"So, let's hope we can work in those two weeks to prepare it properly and be at a good level in Las Vegas.
“We were very strong last year. The characteristics of the track are better for our car.
"However, I think it might be a bit trickier for us to put those in the [right] temperatures,” Leclerc added, noting the challenge of warming tyres effectively under cooler Las Vegas conditions.
Ferrari’s sights are set on securing second place in the constructors' championship in the final three races of the season.
However, Leclerc expects his team to struggle around Qatar’s fast sweeps, especially against championship leader McLaren.
“Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi are the two races where I think we can do well,” he said. “Unfortunately, I think that Qatar will be a bit more difficult and it will be more about damage limitation.
"But it's still three races to go, and hopefully we can make the most out of it and beat McLaren."
Ferrari has little room for error if it wants to keep itself in the frame for the title against McLaren and a resurgent Red Bull.
Sainz shares Leclerc’s determination to give it their all in the final stretch.
"We will be alive until the very end,” insists the Spaniard.
"We have three weekends now coming up that are going to be important for the whole team and now we need to refocus, regroup and see how we can approach these last three races in the best possible way."
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