Leclerc says Ferrari performance at the Canadian Grand Prix 'hurts'

Charles Leclerc, who secured an emotional victory for Ferrari at his home Monaco Grand Prix two weeks ago, refrained from blaming his team for their failure to finish the Canadian Grand Prix.

Despite starting from 11th on the grid, one place ahead of his teammate Carlos Sainz, Leclerc attributed his disappointing race to a problem with his car's power unit. This setback marked the team's first failure to reach Q3 since 2021.

Leclerc expressed his frustration, stating that the engine issue had cost them dearly. In an attempt to salvage their race, they decided to switch to slick tires, as their engine problems would have likely prevented them from scoring any points.

However, the engine issue persisted, causing them to lose significant time on the first straight. Leclerc emphasized the need to address this problem promptly, as it could pose challenges for the remainder of the season.

Despite the disappointment, Leclerc urged his team to avoid overreacting. While they didn't overreact after the Monaco Grand Prix, he acknowledged that this particular race stung.

The team will suffer a significant loss in points due to both cars failing to finish, putting them at a disadvantage against their competitors. Leclerc emphasized the importance of investigating the engine issue and finding a solution.

Leclerc also highlighted their struggles in qualifying, narrowly missing out on Q3 by a mere three hundredths of a second. He acknowledged that they were not satisfied with the car's performance and emphasized the need to analyze what went wrong and make improvements moving forward.