Charles Leclerc tells Ferrari to investigate something ‘weird’ at Saudi GP

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Charles Leclerc has told Ferrari they ‘need to look at’ a ‘weird’ issue he experienced at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Leclerc took his first podium finish of the new season in Jeddah as he finished behind Red Bull duo Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.

However, he wasn’t entirely happy with how his Ferrari felt on the 3.8-mile circuit.

Leclerc started on the front row alongside Verstappen but lost a position to Perez within a few laps.

After pitting under the early safety car, he came out behind Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton, but he was able to make a move on both drivers.

The Monegasque will be relieved to enjoy a broadly clean weekend after struggling with issues in Bahrain last time out.

Leclerc encountered a brake problem that was costing him six tenths per lap for much of the race.

Charles Leclerc wants Ferrari to investigate vibrations

Speaking to F1TV after the race, Leclerc said he broadly felt comfortable behind the wheel of the SF-24.

The 26-year-old claimed the extra point for fastest lap, but says he experienced some odd vibrations that need to be checked.

“I don’t think there was anything to do better today,” he said.

“On the medium, we struggled a bit more than expected. On the beginning on the hard we struggled a bit more than we expected.

“Towards the end we were fast, because we obviously did the fastest lap on the last lap, which was nice.

“We got helped a little bit with the DRS, but all in all I felt good with the car.

“There are just a few things that we need to look at. Some weird vibrations, but apart from that all good.”

Leclerc uses one lap prowess to bag 16 points

Leclerc has now qualified second at both races this season, outpacing Verstappen’s teammate Perez as well as his frontrunning rivals.

The 23-pole driver may hope that his one-lap pace gives him the platform to be the Dutchman’s nearest challenger this season.

BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer Andrew Benson believes that he’s better than both Verstappen and Hamilton when it comes to pulling out a ‘big lap’ at the end of the session.

Leclerc is this year hoping to taste his first victory since the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix.

Teammate Carlos Sainz, who missed the race through illness, was the only non-Red Bull driver to win last year as he took the chequered flag in Singapore.