Ferrari nonetheless wants to seek out extra tempo of their SF-24 if it actually needs to problem for race wins, says Charles Leclerc after the Imola F1 race that noticed him unanble to goal for greater than a 3rd place.
Leclerc has had a clean weekend, having displayed spectacular tempo from the opening observe session. The Monegasque set the benchmark on Friday, and was hopeful that he might problem for pole place, but he finally ended up fourth quickest as he was unable to maintain up with Red Bull’s Verstappen and the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in Saturday’s all-important session
Leclerc was then promoted to 3rd on the grid because of a three-place grid penalty for Piastri, and maintained this place within the race to take his fourth podium end within the opening seven grands prix.
“Today’s race went properly and we received even nearer to our rivals. If we had certified larger up, we might have offered our followers with a good higher consequence. After altering on to the Hard tyres I had nice tempo and managed to make up floor on Lando (Norris) and Max (Verstappen,) but ultimately the McLaren was faster than us, though not by a lot.
“Overall, there are many positives to remove from this race: the upgrades labored as anticipated and we’re extra aggressive. We should proceed to work to shut the hole, which though small, nonetheless separates us from the race winner. Obviously, we dedicate this consequence and our efficiency to the tifosi who’re the very best followers on the planet they usually at all times help us come what might. I’m positive we’ll quickly be capable to pay them again with a win.
His team-mate Carlos Sainz had a way more troublesome weekend as he appeared to wrestle for tempo. The Spaniard appeared barely off the tempo within the center a part of the difficult Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari all via the weekend which he needs to evaluate on Monday as his crew will perform a evaluate and essential race debrief at Maranello.
I can’t be glad after what was a troublesome race for me. I have to evaluate it with the crew to know why I’ve not been comfy with the automotive each in qualifying and right this moment pace-wise. We will regroup tomorrow to begin making ready for Monaco and hopefully we will get a greater consequence there. The combat on the prime is beginning to get tight and we have to proceed pushing.
Recapping the race with a particular visitor 🐶#ImolaGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/LOaO6rQ8VL
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) May 19, 2024
Speaking of the the primary of two residence races, Ferrari crew boss Fred Vasseur mentioned: “First of all I wish to thank all of the tifosi because it was very particular to see them underneath the rostrum after the race. They introduced us numerous vitality this week. Overall, it was a very good weekend past the efficiency on observe.
“Today we introduced residence the very best consequence we might, as it is vitally troublesome to overhaul right here. When we have been pushing we have been in a position to shut the hole, but we needed to be cautious about overheating the tyres and we didn’t have sufficient tempo distinction to overhaul. Unfortunately, the end result of the Grand Prix was very a lot related to yesterday’s qualifying and we have to do a greater job within the subsequent races as we will now see that our competitiveness within the race itself has actually improved.
The Frenchman took delight from his crew’s improved tempo, but he’s conscious of the necessity of further enhancements: “I feel right this moment’s race was additionally an excellent advert for Formula 1 as we noticed three groups in seven seconds after greater than 60 laps, which implies the gaps are lower than one tenth per lap. We are positively on the tempo now and we will combat for the highest spot, even when we nonetheless have to make a small step ahead.
