Charles Leclerc says Ferrari has no “extra motivation” to beat its rivals at this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix amid susp🍌icions about the way it is u൲sing its Formula 1 engine.

Ferrari’s power unit performance has come under scrutiny from its rivals after the Italian squad’s resurg🎃ence since the summer break, havi༒ng won three races in a row and taken six consecutive pole positions.

But a mysterious dip in form 𓃲at the United States Grand Prix led Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to suggest a recent engine technical directive issued by the FIA was linked to Ferrari’s sudden lack of performance, prompting an angry response from Maranello.

Asked if Ferrari has any added motivation to prove i🏅ts rivals wrong, Leclerc replied: “I personally don’t have any 🧸motivation to prove them wrong.

“I think we all know inside the team wh💝at we are doing and there’s absolutely nothing wrong. We are also conꦡfident that things will come back to normal here.

“In Austin there 𝄹were a few things that didn’t go in our way, which obviously the change of engine to the older spec on my side was not idea🐲l and in the race we’ve seen [the effects of] that.

“But on my side no extra mot💎ivation to prove them wrong. We all not wha💯t it’s like here in the team."

Leclerc is bracing himself for a weekend of damage limitation in his bid to hold onto third spot in the championship, with the Monega🀅sque set to be hit with a 10-place grid penalty for taking on a new engine.

Following an power unit issue in Austin, Ferrari has elected to fit a fresh engine to Leclerc’s car ♌for this weekend. Despite suggestions the Scuderia could be trailing elements for its 2020 power unit, Leclerc confirmed the engine will be the same spec as the one he ♑previously used.

“Obviousl🍨y this weekend won’t be easy with the 10 place grid penalty but I believe it was the best opportunity for us for the rest of💫 the championship,” Leclerc explained.

“I will try to limit the damage as much as possible this weekend and try to do the best result possible and then I’m pretty sure we will see🔴 the advantage of changing the engine in Abu Dhabi. 

"Overall I think it will be a plus,” he added. “Whether it’s in qualifying or the race I think it will be pretty similar and there will be an advantage overall. I think there’🥃s more to gain by changing the engine.”

Additional reporting by Julianne Cerasoli