Charles Leclerc: “If we are not in front in Australia, we will stay calm and work as we did in 2024”. The Ferrari driver’s words on the eve of the Melbourne weekend.

After the long winter break, F1 teams and drivers will be back on track in Melbourne tomorrow for the first two free practice sessions. The real potential of the cars will only be revealed in Qualifying, and in any case, the verdict from Albert Park will not be definitive, as the Australian circuit is quite unique. Charles Leclerc took part in media activities ahead of the GP—here’s what he had to say.

Lewis Hamilton draws all the attention
“Surprising as an outsider because McLaren is the favorite and all the attention is on Lewis Hamilton? Honestly, I don’t pay attention to these things. My job is to turn everything that happens within the team into technical feedback—what works and what doesn’t. This year, the lead-up to the race feels ‘quieter’ for me because Hamilton is on the other side of the garage, and it’s only natural that he gets some of the spotlight. It’s also good for our sport. I will continue to do what I’ve always done: stay focused on myself and try to start on the right foot. I’m ready, extremely motivated, and I can’t wait to be in the car tomorrow.” – the Monegasque driver pointed out.

The impact of the 2024 one-two finish
“The one-two finish in 2024? An F1 driver has to reset before every weekend. Two-tenths of a second is nothing in a 1’30” or 1’40” lap, and it can quickly put you ahead or behind. In Bahrain, I think McLaren was faster, but I don’t know if that will be the case this weekend because this track is very different. Regardless, our goal is the World Championship, no matter whether we start the season as the hunters or the hunted. Of course, I hope to be in front, but if that’s not the case, we just need to stay calm and work hard like we did in 2024—a year in which I believe we made a remarkable comeback in the second half of the season. We’ll see where we stand starting tomorrow.” – Charles Leclerc added.

The comparison with Lewis Hamilton
“We’ve had a lot of time to spend together and get to know each other better. We talked about our passions. I’m looking forward to being on track with him at the same time, in the same car, so we can analyze each other’s strengths starting tomorrow.” – the Monegasque driver concluded ahead of the Australian Grand Prix weekend at the Albert Park circuit.