Charles Leclerc unsure about Ferrari's prospects after summer break

The two-week mandatory break has brought a temporary halt to all F1 activities, leaving teams in a state of enforced inactivity.

Before the break, Ferrari, who had started the season with strong performances, found themself trailing behind Red Bull, and in recent races, McLaren and Mercedes surpassed them in the standings.

Leclerc, Ferrari's star driver, has expressed doubts about the team's ability to close the gap upon returning to action.

"I don't think the shutdown will make a difference for us," Leclerc remarked.

"Everything is closed during this period, so it will be all about holidays and recharging the batteries."

At present, Ferrari are positioned third in the Constructors' Championship, recently overtaken by McLaren.

Despite this setback, Leclerc remains hopeful that upcoming upgrades will give Ferrari a necessary boost. "We are working flat out to bring new parts as early as possible," he said.

"However, I cannot confirm when these upgrades will be introduced. Their arrival will determine how quickly we can see progress."

As the F1 season takes its summer hiatus, teams are set to return to action on August 23. The next race on the calendar is the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix, scheduled for August 25 at the Circuit Zandvoort, the 4.259-kilometre track.