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 end result—one which definitely boosts the boldness of a group as soon as once more dealing with the nightmare of not being strong sufficient to battle for the title—was a unbelievable Charles Leclerc, who delivered a strong 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 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 just a few laps—and thus drive in clear air—highlighted an fascinating level.
Through the race, we witnessed Charles Leclerc’s unimaginable 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 group must work on the automobile’s steadiness, 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 fashioned between Ferrari and pole-sitter Max Verstappen. The instances recorded in sectors 2 and three, then again, have been according to the Dutchman’s.
“A constructive weekend. I really feel I completely maximized all the pieces we may do that weekend. There was nothing extra within the automobile. I feel we have to give attention to qualifying as a result of it’s been a very long time since I’ve been pleased with the automobile’s steadiness,” confessed Ferrari’s quantity 16.
“I really feel snug with the automobile, sufficient to know I can often get essentially the most out of it, however sadly the automobile’s potential isn’t ok to purpose for larger qualifying positions. Within the race, nevertheless, the automobile’s steadiness paid off. We have been shocked by the tempo we had in clear air in the course of the first stint. All the things 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 in the course of 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 shortly.
Beginning as far up the grid as attainable performs a vital position as a result of it offers you the possibility to drive in clear air. Greater than ever this 12 months—as Leclerc himself admitted—working 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 present within the race, although, the primary sector was most likely one of the best we’ve had. We have to analyze the scenario. We’re clearly getting one thing incorrect and we have to discover a resolution. 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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