Charles Leclerc admits Ferrari were simply too slow after a strong start faded into an eventual eighth place at the Tuscan Grand Prix.
The Monegasque gave the Tifosi at Mugello hope in the Scuderia’s 1000th race, as he moved up from fifth to third at the start, passing both Red Bulls into Turn 1.
However, after all the early drama, Leclerc gradually began falling down the field, completing two green-flag pit-stops while most only did one.
“We were just slow,” Charles, who finished ninth but gained a place after a five-second penalty for Kimi Raikkonen, conceded.
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“We didn’t have the pace. I put myself in the best position possible, the two Mercs that were going away so I had free air, but just struggling so much with the car.
“We need to work honestly and try to understand because some races were are not very competitive in qualifying but are then are very competitive in the race, which has been the case at the beginning of the season, and now we seem to have done a good job in quali but struggling massively with the car in the race, it is a difficult moment.”
As for teammate Sebastian Vettel, he survived a bump with Carlos Sainz on Lap 1 with only a damaged front wing and from there, was always making his way back through, eventually claiming P10.
“Obviously we were fighting hard and trying everything to get the points,” he said.
“Tight at the end with Kimi – we did everything we could. We weren’t quick enough. Why? Is always a good question and a difficult one to answer, there’s more than one reason.
“Obviously we know that our car is not quick enough but today we would have expected to have a better race pace so we need to have a look.”
Highlighting how poor Ferrari was, only George Russell and Romain Grosjean finished behind the two drivers by the chequered flag.