Ferrari’s SF-23 car proved well-suited to the high-speed Las Vegas track last weekend, as Leclerc and team-mate Carlos Sainz were able to lock out the front row of the grid in qualifying. Sainz ultimately dropped down the grid due to a power unit change penalty.
In the race, Leclerc took the battle to Red Bull and he appeared to have the pace to grab his first win of the campaign before a poorly timed safety car left him on the backfoot in terms of tyre life.
PLUS: The signs that show Leclerc really was set to beat Red Bull in Vegas
While his second-placed finish, having snatched the runner-up spot from Sergio Perez on the final lap, was a great result, Leclerc is aware of the special circumstances at play.
In particular, he felt the unique low temperatures of Las Vegas, which meant tyre graining rather than thermal degradation was the limiting factor, was something that flattered his team.
That is why he expects a return to more normal conditions at Abu Dhabi, which is also quite intensive for tyres, will likely result in a much harder time for Ferrari.
Reflecting on the Las Vegas form, Leclerc said: “I think this says a lot about our car, and we are in conditions that are like nowhere else.
“It's very, very cold and I think overheating here is not that much of an issue. It was more graining and trying to keep those tyres in temperatures, and on that, we are pretty good.
Source: Autosport