Bringing a brand new automobile to its debut at all times feels particular. For Charles Leclerc, it’s nothing new, as he has already had the possibility to take the primary laps in a brand new automobile throughout his years at Maranello, however this 12 months it feels barely totally different.
The need to win stays unchanged, similar to in earlier years, as does the Monegasque driver’s drive to battle for the specified outcomes. Nevertheless, this 12 months there may be nice enthusiasm across the Scuderia, not solely because of the arrival of a champion like Lewis Hamilton but in addition due to the work performed by the engineers, with an optimism that additionally exhibits in Ferrari’s phrases.
Frederic Vasseur defined that to succeed in the declared purpose, the world title, a revolution of the SF-24 was not obligatory, however somewhat a reasoned evolution, particularly contemplating the end result of the previous season, the place the Scuderia completed with a aggressive automobile and achieved some satisfactions.
It’s from that base that the engineers began, with a part of the ground being an evolution of the experimental one examined on the finish of the earlier 12 months. Ferrari desires to carry all the weather collectively to seize a title that eluded them in 2024.
Charles Leclerc is very dreaming of it, believing that this 12 months the entire Ferrari crew has performed an unbelievable job to be prepared not just for the primary check subsequent week in Sakhir but in addition to carry a aggressive automobile to the observe.
“My want to develop into world champion has at all times been the identical. I really like what I do, I really like Ferrari, and I wish to win with Ferrari. Successful the title in crimson could be one thing unbelievable. I’m doing every little thing I can to attempt to make it occur as shortly as attainable, and I hope that is the best 12 months,” stated the Monegasque to Sky Italia microphones after the primary filming day.
“We’ve labored rather well, not simply me coaching however the entire crew. They’ve labored to make sure we arrive on the first checks as ready as attainable. We’ve performed many days within the simulator, many laps, and it was constructive to organize for this primary day and the checks.”
Clearly, the ultimate phrase will come solely from the observe, with the stopwatch being the one actual software to search out the solutions sought. Nevertheless, the premises are very constructive, particularly since this winter could be very totally different from the final one. If twelve months in the past Ferrari was coming off the dominance of Purple Bull and had utterly modified its aerodynamic idea, this 12 months the SF-25 is an evolution of its predecessor, hoping to have made a step ahead in the important thing areas.
After a robust end to final season, with a grid that always proved very shut and open to surprises, the purpose is to goal excessive. For that reason, Charles Leclerc didn’t conceal that if, on the finish of the 12 months, neither of the 2 world titles was gained, the season may very well be a disappointment. The purpose, nonetheless, is to make sure that this doesn’t occur and that the 12 months may be closed with a smile, writing a web page of Ferrari historical past.
“Final 12 months we completed second within the constructors’ and I used to be very dissatisfied. So, the purpose now’s to win. That’s at all times the best purpose for Ferrari, so once you’re in crimson, it’s a must to goal to win. I will surely be dissatisfied if we didn’t win each titles, however we’ll do every little thing we will to win,” Charles Leclerc stated.
Charles Leclerc was additionally the motive force who opened the debut with the SF-25, bringing the brand new automobile to its first outing after getting back from the London presentation at 4:30 within the morning, solely to be again on observe at Fiorano for the primary assembly with the engineers at 7:30.
Clearly, it’s too early to attract conclusions, because the filming day is extra of an preliminary contact with the automobile, though each drivers had the chance to push and begin to really feel the automobile.
The primary impressions, nonetheless, are constructive, and above all, the crew didn’t encounter any unfavourable surprises within the first 200 kilometers of testing: “I’d at all times prefer to really feel extra, particularly on such an necessary first day, with a lot enthusiasm, as a result of it’s the primary time we drive this automobile,” Charles Leclerc stated.
“As for the sensations, the constructive side is that there have been no unfavourable surprises, which is what we search for within the first laps. We didn’t encounter any surprising emotions or numbers, that wasn’t the case at the moment, and that’s the excellent news. Going past could be very tough for now, however the feeling was good, and the ambiance was unbelievable.” – the Monegasque driver concluded.
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