Charles Leclerc explains tyre management will be the key to a Ferrari win at the F1 2025 Miami GP as the Monegasque star reveals the Scuderia will aim to win at the Miami International Autodrome.
The 27-year-old bagged his first podium of the campaign at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit when he fended off Lando Norris’ rampaging McLaren to the chequered flag after 50 laps, the first time the team have beaten one of the cars on pace in a Grand Prix.
It could be the start of their renaissance in the sport after a dismal opening to the latest Formula 1 season, which sees them sitting fourth in the constructors’ championship despite being tipped as one of the preseason favourites.
Although they had the peak of Sprint Pole and Sprint Race win in China, they have generally been the third-quickest car at best; but this was different on April 20 as they managed to beat Norris and Mercedes in a straight fight.
Could things finally be looking up for the Scuderia? Leclerc hopes so as he reveals the team will be going for the win at the F1 2025 Miami GP from May 2-4, and he explains how they will do it.
“It’s not been the first part of the season we wished we had,” Leclerc told F1 TV. “But it’s the first part of the season we had.
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“So now we need to focus on what’s ahead and try to improve just like we have in the last three races. I think we’ve done good steps in the right direction and now it’s all about building on that and hopefully having the first victory as soon as possible.
“I don’t feel we quite have the potential on paper to fight the McLaren, and the Red Bull on good days, yet but we’ve got to take the points that are available and then whenever we will have the car to fight for wins, we’ve got to be there to win.
“Having said all that I still go into this weekend with one goal in mind, which is to win on Sunday, and we will do our best.”
Leclerc reveals the key to how Ferrari will win F1 2025 Miami GP
Formula 1 has been aiming to combat one-stop races with limited overtaking to boost the prospects of good races for both drivers and fans in what has the makings to be a classic season.
And that includes Pirelli, the Italian tyre manufacturer of the sport, who will bring a softer range of compounds to Florida in a big to prompt teams and racers to opt for two-stop strategies.
This can see teams go aggressive by pushing early in the first stint, or managing tyres to create an off-set at the end to then push aggressive in the closing laps; as well as mixing up whether they run the medium or hard tyres twice.
And the man from Monte Carlo believes this softer tyre range will be the key at the F1 2025 Miami GP and it’s where Ferrari will have a chance to win Sunday’s 57-lap-long event – if McLaren make any mistakes.
“Tyre management is a big thing here,” Leclerc added. “Especially with the heat and the tarmac – the way it’s done.
“Last year McLaren was really strong, this year they are even much faster than last year so I think it’s going to be tough to beat them. But we’ll see.
“Whenever it was very warm this year – whether it’s Bahrain FP3, Jeddah FP3 – they seem to be on another planet.
“I don’t think what we have in the car is enough to beat them but let’s wait and see.”
