Charles Leclerc sits atop F1's Drivers' standings ahead of this weekend's Australian Grand Prix, but the Monegasques fears that Melbourne's altered track may not suit the qualities of Ferrari's F1-75.
Since F1 last raced at Albert Park in 2019, the venue has undergone a series of changes and upgrades intended to improve overtaking around the 14-corner, 5.27km lay-out where lap times are expected to be approximately five seconds faster than in the past.
Ferrari performed exceedingly well in F1's opening races which took place on two very different tracks, with Leclerc winning in Bahrain and finishing runner-up to Red Bull's max Verstappen in Jeddah.
Yet, the Scuderia charger is keeping his expectations in check regarding this weekend's round of racing in Melbourne although he believes that Ferrari will be "in the mix".
"Overall, I think the track characteristics here are not fitting very well with [our car]," said Leclerc.
"Everything is to play for, and I still think we will be in the mix; it will still be very close, it is not like it is going to be a big gap so if we do the perfect weekend anything is possible.
"I think the old track would have suited us better, but it is the way it is now, and we will try to maximise everything this weekend as always and hopefully Imola will probably be a track that suits us a bit better."
Leclerc's teammate Carlos Sainz who locked in big points at Sakhir and in Jeddah is also a bit guarded about Ferrari's prospects in Australia.
"I mean, our car has been strong at both circuits, all the circuits that we have been to so far," said Sainz.
"But it is true in Jeddah, with more straightline [speed], the Red Bull looked like the better car around there, the better balanced, in terms of top speed and corner speed.
"So, given how long the straights have become here, maybe they are a bit more up for it, but I think we can still do a good job."
Leclerc showcased in Bahrain and in Jeddah his astute gamesmanship when it comes to making the most of DRS, even if the Monegasque was beaten to the flag in Saudi Arabia by Max Verstappen.
With Melbourne's Albert Park sliced up into four DRS zones this weekend – a first for F1, Leclerc will have many opportunities to demonstrate once again his DRS ruse.
"It's always quite tricky, but I always try to do the best job possible and obviously with the weakness that we have with the straightline speed against Red Bull, we need to try and play it smart," said the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix winner.
"We’ve seen the past two races this strategy with the DRS, and I am pretty sure that we will see it even more here because basically all the straights have a DRS zone.
"So overtaking will be a thing and being clever can make a big difference here."
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