Breaking news
Formula 1 Barcelona February testing
Leclerc: Ferrari's rivals are sandbagging
Charles Leclerc believes Ferrari's Formula 1 rivals have been "sandbagging" in pre-season testing at Barcelona.
Scott Mitchell
Published: Feb 21, 2019, 6:01 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Mercedes and Red Bull did not threaten the top of the leaderboard across the first three days of the first test, although Mercedes increased its performance on Thursday.
Leclerc helped Ferrari top the first two days of the test but, after lapping slightly slower than Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas on the final day, he believes its rivals are still holding back.
"The performance has no sense for now because it's testing, they are not pushing and we are not either," he said.
"We don't know how much the others are sandbagging. So, we'll see at the first race.
"The main importance for this test is to do the programme of the day and that's what we're doing, so we're happy."
Leclerc's teammate Sebastian Vettel said at the start of the week that Ferrari had almost achieved "perfection" with its swift start to testing.
That strong start has also led Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas to declare Ferrari is ahead at the moment.
"As Seb said it doesn't feel like a new car," said Leclerc. "It feels like it's already quite an established car.
"We need to keep pushing. The other teams are sandbagging. We need to see how much they are, but we are pretty happy with the car at the moment."
Vettel's feedback on Ferrari's SF90 included the claim that it gave him confidence to do what he wanted on-track.
Leclerc agreed that it is "quite easy to drive".
"I already feel quite at ease with the car," he said. "There's still a lot I need to get at ease with but already the feeling is very good."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Red Bull expects more Verstappen patience this year
Next article Russell: New Williams feels "nice", "stable" despite setbacks
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Scott Mitchell
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
More from
Charles Leclerc
Why Ferrari failed to deliver on its hype in F1's United States GP qualifying
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
9 h
Why Ferrari failed to deliver on its hype in F1's United States GP qualifying
F1 United States GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
10 h
F1 United States GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
More from
Ferrari
F1 United States GP: Lewis Hamilton pips Max Verstappen in FP3
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
14 h
F1 United States GP: Lewis Hamilton pips Max Verstappen in FP3
F1 United States GP: Charles Leclerc completes perfect Friday by topping FP2
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
F1 United States GP: Charles Leclerc completes perfect Friday by topping FP2
Latest news
Sammy Smith just pulled off a rare Talladega feat not seen in over twenty years
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Talladega II
10 min
Sammy Smith just pulled off a rare Talladega feat not seen in over twenty years
Supercars Gold Coast: Broc Feeney converts Race 2 pole to win after Saturday defeat
Supercars
SUPC Supercars
Gold Coast 500
57 min
Supercars Gold Coast: Broc Feeney converts Race 2 pole to win after Saturday defeat
Marc Marquez: Track conditions were “acceptable” despite Australian GP cancellation
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Marc Marquez: Track conditions were “acceptable” despite Australian GP cancellation
Aprilia unsure whether Australian GP cancellation good or bad for the team
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Aprilia unsure whether Australian GP cancellation good or bad for the team
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe