Leclerc: It can go incredibly well or incredibly wrong

While Formula 1 raced in Qatar back in 2021, it is the first time the sport's new ground-effect machines visit the Lusail International Circuit, which means the teams will have a challenge to set their cars up properly.

What makes matters more challenging is the fact that the track has been resurfaced ahead of this weekend's event, and with the Sprint format being applied, that means the teams have only one practice session to make sure their cars are set up properly.

Speaking to the media in Qatar, Leclerc was asked about the task of getting the SF-23 ready for the weekend in Qatar, he said: "It is definitely going to be very difficult because we've got obviously extremely warm temperatures where normally we take a bit of time to understand what is the limit for the cooling... etc.

"We only have one session, a track that has been completely resurfaced also. So there are many things that we need to learn in only one session. So it can either go incredibly well or incredibly wrong.

"We have done a lot of work to prepare for this race in order for it to go very well. So I hope it will be the case," he added.

Ferrari have been faring slightly better with their SF-23 since the restart of the F1 season in Zandvoort after the summer break, with Carlos Sainz taking pole at Monza and another one in Singapore which he converted into a win.

Ferrari also had a new floor on the car for the previous race in Japan, and Leclerc was asked if the team has managed a breakthrough with the car.

He responded: "Honestly, it's been like this is the beginning of the season, sometimes tracks work a little bit better, others a little bit less.

"I wouldn't say that it's a breakthrough in that from that moment [Japan] onwards, because the issues on the car are still there, and I think we need a completely new car to get rid of them, and and that is a target for next year," he explained.

Leclerc, who finished fourth in the Japanese Grand Prix was asked whether the progress Ferrari achieved was an encouragement, or depressing given the huge gap to Red Bull.

"A bit of both, I guess, " he said. "On one side, you always need to look at yourself and and I think since the second part of the seasons in Zandvoort, we've learned a lot so with that we are happy.

"Then, of course we understand also that Red Bull is still very far ahead. McLaren also have their peak and when they have their peak, they are extremely strong like they were at Suzuka.

"But, all in all, I think we are more happy with what we've learned than depressed with the distance to Red Bull because I think with what we learned, we can do a significant step in the future and which hopefully will help us close the gap to Red Bull as soon as possible," the Monegasque maintained.

With six races remaining, Ferrari are chasing Mercedes for second place in the 2023 F1 Constructors' Championship having a 20-point-gap to close in order to achieve that. Six races remain this season.

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Reporting by Agnes Carlier, Writing by Jad Mallak

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