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 necessary end result—one which definitely boosts the arrogance of a crew as soon as once more dealing with the nightmare of not being stable sufficient to battle for the title—was a unbelievable Charles Leclerc, who delivered a stable 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 in a position to lead the race for just a few laps—and thus drive in clear air—highlighted an attention-grabbing level.
Through the race, we witnessed Charles Leclerc’s unbelievable tempo on the medium tires, virtually on par with that of Lando Norris, who was operating on the exhausting compound. This efficiency even shocked Charles Leclerc himself, fueling additional doubts a couple of automobile 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 crew must work on the automobile’s stability, particularly with qualifying in thoughts, as he nonetheless hasn’t managed to place collectively a great qualifying lap to date. At Jeddah, it was the primary sector the place the hole fashioned between Ferrari and pole-sitter Max Verstappen. The instances recorded in sectors 2 and three, then again, have been in step with the Dutchman’s.
“A constructive weekend. I really feel I completely maximized all the things we may do that weekend. There was nothing extra within the automobile. I feel we have to concentrate on qualifying as a result of it’s been a very long time since I’ve been pleased with the automobile’s stability,” confessed Ferrari’s quantity 16.
“I really feel comfy with the automobile, sufficient to know I can often get essentially the most out of it, however sadly the automobile’s potential isn’t adequate to intention for increased qualifying positions. Within the race, nevertheless, the automobile’s stability 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, as we speak 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 potential performs an important function as a result of it provides you the possibility to drive in clear air. Greater than ever this yr—as Leclerc himself admitted—operating with none automobile 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 the moment within the race, although, the primary sector was most likely the most effective 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 are able to’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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