Charles Leclerc kicked off the season by doing that thing drivers dream about: blasting from fourth to first before the first corner at the Australian Grand Prix. It looked like Ferrari had installed a jetpack on the car, and the internet collectively took notes.
Nice start, but don’t get comfy
Leclerc was quick to rain on the parade a little. He admits Ferrari’s start advantage — first spotted in pre-season testing and fully on display in Melbourne — probably won’t be a season-long superpower. The short version: once every team figures out how to run their new power units in the sweet spot, the gap at lights-out should shrink.
His read is technical but simple: Ferrari’s launch system is robust, and they seem to get into that optimal engine window a touch easier than some rivals, Mercedes in particular. That gives Ferrari an edge now, but it is not, according to Leclerc, an eternal advantage. Expect others to catch up quickly.
Melbourne’s chaotic start wasn’t just drama for drama’s sake
The first race also had its share of starter-pack chaos lower down the grid, including a near-miss between Liam Lawson and Franco Colapinto after a slow getaway. Drivers and teams were already worried about adapting to the new units, so a few hiccups were expected.
Leclerc added that Albert Park is a notoriously awkward track for energy management, which made the starts even trickier. He also said the race lights seemed to go out faster than usual, which didn’t help anyone trying to juggle energy and launch strategy.
Patience, not panic
Bottom line: Leclerc thinks patience is the smart play. Before anyone starts handing out trophies for best-start system, he wants to see how things look at tracks that are more typical for the season. The next races should give a clearer picture, and he expects the situation to level out into something healthier for everyone.
So enjoy Ferrari’s fireworks for now, but don’t be surprised if the show becomes a group effort once the others find the same sweet spot under the hood.
