Bringing a brand new automotive 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 automotive throughout his years at Maranello, however this yr it feels barely completely different.
The will to win stays unchanged, similar to in earlier years, as does the Monegasque driver’s drive to battle for the specified outcomes. Nonetheless, this yr there may be nice enthusiasm across the Scuderia, not solely as a result of arrival of a champion like Lewis Hamilton but additionally due to the work performed by the engineers, with an optimism that additionally reveals in Ferrari’s phrases.
Frederic Vasseur defined that to succeed in the declared objective, the world title, a revolution of the SF-24 was not essential, however quite a reasoned evolution, particularly contemplating the end result of the previous season, the place the Scuderia completed with a aggressive automotive 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 yr. Ferrari needs to convey all the weather collectively to seize a title that eluded them in 2024.
Charles Leclerc is particularly dreaming of it, believing that this yr the entire Ferrari group has performed an unbelievable job to be prepared not just for the primary check subsequent week in Sakhir but additionally to convey a aggressive automotive to the observe.
“My need to turn out to be world champion has at all times been the identical. I like what I do, I like Ferrari, and I wish to win with Ferrari. Successful the title in crimson could be one thing unbelievable. I’m doing every thing I can to attempt to make it occur as rapidly as potential, and I hope that is the suitable yr,” mentioned the Monegasque to Sky Italia microphones after the primary filming day.
“We’ve labored very well, not simply me coaching however the entire group. They’ve labored to make sure we arrive on the first exams as ready as potential. We’ve performed many days within the simulator, many laps, and it was optimistic to arrange for this primary day and the exams.”
Clearly, the ultimate phrase will come solely from the observe, with the stopwatch being the one actual software to search out the solutions sought. Nonetheless, the premises are very optimistic, particularly since this winter could be very completely different from the final one. If twelve months in the past Ferrari was coming off the dominance of Pink Bull and had fully modified its aerodynamic idea, this yr 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 usually proved very shut and open to surprises, the objective is to purpose excessive. Because of this, Charles Leclerc didn’t cover that if, on the finish of the yr, neither of the 2 world titles was gained, the season might be a disappointment. The objective, nevertheless, is to make sure that this doesn’t occur and that the yr might be closed with a smile, writing a web page of Ferrari historical past.
“Final yr we completed second within the constructors’ and I used to be very disillusioned. So, the objective now’s to win. That’s at all times the suitable objective for Ferrari, so while you’re in crimson, it’s important to purpose to win. I will surely be disillusioned if we didn’t win each titles, however we’ll do every thing we are able to to win,” Charles Leclerc mentioned.
Charles Leclerc was additionally the motive force who opened the debut with the SF-25, bringing the brand new automotive to its first outing after coming 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 automotive, though each drivers had the chance to push and begin to really feel the automotive.
The primary impressions, nevertheless, are optimistic, and above all, the group didn’t encounter any detrimental surprises within the first 200 kilometers of testing: “I’d at all times wish to really feel extra, particularly on such an vital first day, with a lot enthusiasm, as a result of it’s the primary time we drive this automotive,” Charles Leclerc mentioned.
“As for the sensations, the optimistic side is that there have been no detrimental 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 present, and that’s the excellent news. Going past could be very tough for now, however the feeling was good, and the environment was unbelievable.” – the Monegasque driver concluded.
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers learn about us
