Charles Leclerc praises SF-23's consistency in Ferrari's successful one-stop strategy in Canada

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has lauded the consistent performance of his SF-23 car, which allowed the team to successfully execute a one-stop strategy at the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.

Despite a disappointing qualifying session, Leclerc managed to recover and secure a fourth-place finish, while his teammate Carlos Sainz crossed the line in fifth. The team took advantage of an early Safety Car period, opting to keep both drivers out on a one-stop strategy.

This decision helped them build a comfortable lead over their midfield rivals, who were on a two-stop strategy. The only other drivers on a one-stop plan were Alex Albon and Valtteri Bottas.

Acknowledging Ferrari's recent struggles with tyre wear, Leclerc attributed their competitiveness in the race to the positive performance demonstrated during Friday's practice sessions with all tyre compounds.

"Considering where we were starting from, I think this is the best we could have achieved today," Leclerc told Sky Sports. "What makes me happiest is that the confidence I had during Friday's race simulations was validated today."

"In both the Medium and the Hard compounds, we displayed strong competitiveness," Leclerc added.

Following the introduction of significant upgrades at the Spanish Grand Prix, Leclerc encountered a mysterious issue that plagued him throughout the weekend. However, the problem seemed to resolve itself this time around, enabling him to explore a different setup direction that provided greater consistency-a characteristic the team lacked earlier in the season.

"We really struggled with consistency at the beginning of the season," Leclerc explained. "Transitioning from a Medium tyre, which felt decent, to a Soft or Hard tyre would completely unsettle the car."

"Interestingly, I opted for a different setup direction this weekend, which made me feel more comfortable and contributed to improved consistency across all tyre compounds," Leclerc noted.

Leclerc's commendation of the SF-23's reliability and the team's strategic prowess highlights Ferrari's resurgence in the fiercely competitive Formula 1 championship.