After ready 4 Grands Prix, Ferrari has lastly returned to the rostrum, even when it’s solely the bottom step for now. Main the Scuderia to this vital consequence—one which definitely boosts the boldness of a workforce as soon as once more going through the nightmare of not being strong sufficient to struggle for the title—was a improbable Charles Leclerc, who delivered a strong efficiency on all fronts.
The choice to increase the primary stint undoubtedly paid off for the Monegasque. With a nine-lap tire benefit, he first overtook George Russell after which constructed a ample hole to the McLaren of Lando Norris, who completed behind the SF-25 on the finish of the race. However the truth that Leclerc was capable of lead the race for just a few laps—and thus drive in clear air—highlighted an fascinating level.
Through the race, we witnessed Charles Leclerc’s unimaginable tempo on the medium tires, virtually on par with that of Lando Norris, who was operating on the laborious compound. This efficiency even shocked Charles Leclerc himself, fueling additional doubts a few automotive that already reveals clear points and urgently wants upgrades to reignite the title hopes of its two drivers.
Saudi Arabian GP – Ferrari, Charles Leclerc: “Qualifying is our Achilles’ heel”
Within the post-race interviews for podium finishers, Charles Leclerc emphasised how a lot the workforce must work on the automotive’s stability, particularly with qualifying in thoughts, as he nonetheless hasn’t managed to place collectively a great qualifying lap to this point. At Jeddah, it was the primary sector the place the hole shaped between Ferrari and pole-sitter Max Verstappen. The occasions recorded in sectors 2 and three, alternatively, have been consistent with the Dutchman’s.
“A optimistic weekend. I really feel I completely maximized every part we might do that weekend. There was nothing extra within the automotive. I believe we have to deal with qualifying as a result of it’s been a very long time since I’ve been proud of the automotive’s stability,” confessed Ferrari’s quantity 16.
“I really feel snug with the automotive, sufficient to know I can often get probably the most out of it, however sadly the automotive’s potential isn’t adequate to goal for increased qualifying positions. Within the race, nonetheless, the automotive’s stability paid off. We have been shocked by the tempo we had in clear air through the first stint. All the things went proper. Good technique. Good pit stops. There was nothing extra we might do,” Leclerc continued.
The SF-25 fuels Charles Leclerc’s doubts: “Yesterday we misplaced time within the first sector, at present it was our greatest”
The 1997-born driver went on to speak about his emotions through the race, admitting that the very fact the primary sector was favorable within the race—in contrast to in qualifying—is because of a transparent mistake on Ferrari’s half, one which must be resolved shortly.
Beginning as far up the grid as doable performs an important function as a result of it provides you the possibility to drive in clear air. Greater than ever this 12 months—as Leclerc himself admitted—operating with none automotive in entrance is significant.
“This time we misplaced 4 tenths within the first three corners. For the remainder of the lap we have been quick. In the present day within the race, although, the primary sector was in all probability one of the best we’ve had. We have to analyze the state of affairs. We’re clearly getting one thing flawed and we have to discover a resolution. We will’t afford to lose too many races earlier than fixing it, as a result of we’re already 50 factors behind within the Drivers’ Championship,” Charles Leclerc concluded on the finish of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
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