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 essential consequence—one which actually boosts the boldness of a group as soon as once more going through the nightmare of not being stable sufficient to struggle for the title—was a implausible Charles Leclerc, who delivered a stable efficiency on all fronts.
The choice to increase the primary stint positively paid off for the Monegasque. With a nine-lap tire benefit, he first overtook George Russell after which constructed a adequate 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 a couple of laps—and thus drive in clear air—highlighted an fascinating level.
In the course of the race, we witnessed Charles Leclerc’s unbelievable tempo on the medium tires, nearly on par with that of Lando Norris, who was working on the laborious compound. This efficiency even shocked Charles Leclerc himself, fueling additional doubts a couple of automotive that already exhibits 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 group must work on the automotive’s steadiness, particularly with qualifying in thoughts, as he nonetheless hasn’t managed to place collectively a superb qualifying lap up to now. At Jeddah, it was the primary sector the place the hole fashioned between Ferrari and pole-sitter Max Verstappen. The occasions recorded in sectors 2 and three, alternatively, have been in keeping with the Dutchman’s.
“A optimistic weekend. I really feel I completely maximized every thing we may do that weekend. There was nothing extra within the automotive. I feel we have to give attention to qualifying as a result of it’s been a very long time since I’ve been proud of the automotive’s steadiness,” confessed Ferrari’s quantity 16.
“I really feel snug with the automotive, sufficient to know I can often get essentially the most out of it, however sadly the automotive’s potential isn’t ok to goal for larger qualifying positions. Within the race, nevertheless, the automotive’s steadiness paid off. We have been shocked by the tempo we had in clear air through the first stint. The whole lot went proper. Good technique. Good pit stops. There was nothing extra we may do,” Leclerc continued.
The SF-25 fuels Charles Leclerc’s doubts: “Yesterday we misplaced time within the first sector, right now 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 rapidly.
Beginning as far up the grid as doable performs a vital position as a result of it offers you the prospect to drive in clear air. Greater than ever this yr—as Leclerc himself admitted—working 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. At this time within the race, although, the primary sector was most likely the most effective we’ve had. We have to analyze the scenario. We’re clearly getting one thing incorrect and we have to discover a answer. 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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