Morale at Ferrari has improved considerably after Charles Leclerc’s first podium of the season at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. After a really sophisticated Saturday, the Monegasque driver delivered an distinctive race by way of tire administration and tempo, sustaining robust efficiency each on Medium and Exhausting compounds. He made an unstoppable restoration on George Russell, ultimately overtaking him, and likewise managed to defend himself in opposition to the ultimate assaults from a fired-up Lando Norris. The Jeddah race showcased, at the very least partially, the potential of the SF-25. Nonetheless, performing nicely on Sunday shouldn’t be sufficient to intention for victory or persistently attain the rostrum. Leclerc is aware of this and, not surprisingly, emphasised that essential updates shall be wanted to deal with the present most important problem for Ferrari: qualifying.
“What we’re lacking now’s qualifying efficiency. It comes a bit from the shortage of aerodynamic downforce in comparison with McLaren, Purple Bull, and Mercedes,” Charles said after the Jeddah race. “Our robust level, nonetheless, is tire degradation. We noticed through the race that it was excellent, however in qualifying we will’t do higher, and that’s the place we lose each weekend.”
“Nonetheless, there are lots of issues that I’ve to be completely satisfied about. For a number of weekends now, I’ve been understanding one thing that unlocked efficiency, and it’ll unlock much more efficiency for me. It’s been a very long time since I felt as snug within the automobile as I do now, however we have to discover extra efficiency normally.”
At present, it appears troublesome to think about a Ferrari closing the efficiency hole to McLaren in only a few races. Leclerc, in actual fact, believes that solely in Barcelona will issues change. Through the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, checks on wing flex shall be stricter, and that’s the place Ferrari hopes—at the very least in response to Leclerc’s phrases—to cut back the hole to the MCL39, because of the drawback the brand new laws ought to convey to the papaya vehicles.
“Profitable is the one factor that issues to me. We will meet up with McLaren with the updates that can come. There may also be an essential race in Spain when the entrance wing will change because of the laws. We’ll see how the efficiency compares then. Earlier than that weekend, it will likely be troublesome to shut the hole to McLaren.”
Returning to Ferrari, Charles didn’t conceal his satisfaction with each his personal efficiency—he was completely satisfied along with his qualifying tempo and the way he managed the race—and the group’s efficiency. The mechanics at Maranello have had a superb season by way of pit stops. Yesterday, they managed to carry out a tire change on Charles Leclerc’s SF-25 (from Medium to Exhausting) in simply 2 seconds. An ideal consequence that helped Charles rejoin Russell and make the assault in a slightly brief time. The overtake resulted in a podium, his first of the season.
“I’m proud of my efficiency and the group’s efficiency. As a result of the group did all the things completely. The technique was good, the pit cease was good as all the time. The blokes within the pit cease are doing a unprecedented job. There’s a number of speak about pit stops when there are errors, however not a lot when all the things goes nicely, and they’re doing an amazing job.”
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