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 outcome—one which actually boosts the boldness of a staff 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 in a position to lead the race for a couple of laps—and thus drive in clear air—highlighted an fascinating level.
Throughout 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 exhausting compound. This efficiency even shocked Charles Leclerc himself, fueling additional doubts a few automobile 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 staff must work on the automobile’s stability, particularly with qualifying in thoughts, as he nonetheless hasn’t managed to place collectively qualifying lap thus far. At Jeddah, it was the primary sector the place the hole shaped between Ferrari and pole-sitter Max Verstappen. The instances recorded in sectors 2 and three, alternatively, had been in keeping with the Dutchman’s.
“A optimistic weekend. I really feel I completely maximized all the things we might do that weekend. There was nothing extra within the automobile. 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 automobile’s stability,” confessed Ferrari’s quantity 16.
“I really feel comfy with the automobile, sufficient to know I can normally get probably the most out of it, however sadly the automobile’s potential isn’t adequate to goal for increased qualifying positions. Within the race, nevertheless, the automobile’s stability paid off. We had been shocked by the tempo we had in clear air in the course of the first stint. The whole lot 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, right this moment it was our greatest”
The 1997-born driver went on to speak about his emotions in the course of the race, admitting that the actual fact the primary sector was favorable within the race—not like 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 a vital function 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 automobile in entrance is important.
“This time we misplaced 4 tenths within the first three corners. For the remainder of the lap we had been quick. As we speak within the race, although, the primary sector was in all probability the most effective we’ve had. We have to analyze the scenario. We’re clearly getting one thing unsuitable 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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