Ferrari secured its first podium of the season in Jeddah due to a powerful efficiency by Charles Leclerc. The race tempo of the quantity 16 SF-25 was convincing from begin to end, typically matching the instances set by the McLaren automobiles and Max Verstappen’s Crimson Bull.
After the 50 laps and the rostrum ceremony, Ferrari workforce principal Frédéric Vasseur spoke to Sky Sport F1 to touch upon the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix from each angle so far as Ferrari’s weekend was involved.
At the moment Ferrari confirmed glorious race tempo. So the issue lies in qualifying, primarily?
“It’s clear that if we’re not one or two steps additional forward right this moment, it’s due to qualifying, as a result of within the race we had a really aggressive tempo. Charles was very robust. He managed the tyres for the primary 10 laps as a result of he was in soiled air and knew he must prolong the stint. Then on the Laborious he had McLaren’s tempo. However as we’ve mentioned, we have to enhance in qualifying, be extra constant all through the weekend, and begin from a greater place.”
Is Leclerc no less than partially saving this begin to the season?
“It’s not about saving something, we have to work as a workforce to maintain growing and bettering. We’ve got weak factors and we all know they’re largely in qualifying, as a result of then within the race we’re at all times a bit stronger. We’ve got to do a greater job on Saturdays, however it’s a workforce effort—it’s not one individual saving the others. We’re all in the identical boat.”
The SF-25 appears to carry out properly in quick sections and wrestle within the gradual ones. Is that the place it’s worthwhile to enhance?
“I’m undecided that’s the difficulty, as a result of right this moment we had been very constant in all kinds of corners. Yesterday we struggled rather a lot in turns 1 and a pair of. At the moment as a substitute we had been the quickest. We have to speak with our drivers to grasp what was accomplished in a different way in comparison with yesterday. Actually, the tempo was there all through the lap. Additionally, tyre preparation and administration are essential with regards to one-lap struggles.”
Is it solely a tyre difficulty or have you ever discovered one thing within the setup as properly?
“It’s at all times a matter of many elements, it’s by no means only one particular factor. While you’re three tenths behind, it’s not only one factor that’s off, it’s a sequence of things. Efficiency comes from totally different parts and we have to seek for each tenth in each space, identical to we did final yr. We had been far off in the beginning of final season too, however then we caught up. This podium will assist push us ahead.”
It’s the second race the place you’ve scored extra factors than everybody—besides McLaren. How far off are you from what you anticipated in the beginning of the season?
“We’re behind McLaren when it comes to factors and it’s fairly a spot. In comparison with Crimson Bull and Mercedes, the issue was what occurred in China. However now we look forward to preserve working and pushing as a gaggle. The outcomes will come.”
Do you continue to consider within the championship?
“I’m fascinated with Miami. I feel it’s a mistake to deal with the championship. We have to do what we did final yr—method it race by race to enhance. We all know the automotive has weak spots, it’s clear, we have now to be sincere. We have to make an sincere evaluation. We’ve got pretty clear concepts.”
What do you make of Lewis’ race?
“It was tougher for him, ending 30 seconds behind Charles. He struggled in the direction of the top. He had a good second stint, however in soiled air he struggled. He’s having too many ups and downs—each him and the workforce. We should be extra constant and do a greater job in FP3 forward of qualifying. I feel that’s the primary difficulty. We’ve got to be on it in each session, not simply within the race or in qualifying.”
Will you go all-in with updates in Miami?
“Miami might be troublesome as a result of there’ll solely be one apply session. It’ll be a Dash weekend. So we’ll solely have one hour of apply. We’ll in all probability convey updates in Imola.”
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