What sort of Ferrari did we see in Jeddah? The identical as all the time could be essentially the most correct reply. Actually, this so-called step ahead has been talked about for a month and a half now. And but, regardless of all of the discuss that there appears to be a glimmer of sunshine, in actuality darkness and gloomy tones proceed to prevail. The frustration impacts not solely the followers but in addition lingers of their minds.
Ferrari did optimize issues with Charles
Fred Vasseur claims extra may have been performed, as a result of dropping greater than two and a half tenths in two corners will not be acceptable. That’s precisely what occurred to Ferrari, however the causes are totally different and fairly clear. Fred states that by optimizing efficiency, the hole would have been totally different, however we strongly disagree. Charles Leclerc doesn’t agree both. That’s precisely why he’s upset with Ferrari.
The staff went out with a baseline setup the place the SF-25 labored properly within the extra technical sectors. Nevertheless, in path modifications it lacked the required precision — a state of affairs, as defined in our traditional technical evaluation, that led the staff to stiffen the automobile additional. Some enhancements adopted, however as a consequence, grip administration within the slower corners worsened.
The story stays the identical. The notorious brief blanket: wherever you pull it, you expose a weak spot. That’s why there’s no level in speaking about optimization. Automotive quantity 16, in Leclerc’s palms, produced an excellent lap. As soon as once more, Charles drove past the automobile’s issues. He did it by taking main dangers. The snap in Flip 16 through the Q3 flying lap is the proper snapshot of the state of affairs.
Fred’s flawed and puzzling view
Over a 300-kilometre race, in principle, tyre degradation needs to be a lot decrease than in Bahrain. There could also be some graining points on the entrance tyres, which have a tendency to chill down on the straights — that’s true. Fred Vasseur additionally claims that Ferrari has all the time carried out properly with a excessive gasoline load. We’re not precisely positive which automobile Fred, all the time cheerful, is referring to.
As a result of if “performing properly” means not even reaching the rostrum in 4 races, then that claims all of it. In FP2, the lengthy runs have been disrupted as a consequence of Yuki Tsunoda’s crash at Flip 27. Only some laps have been accomplished, which can’t and shouldn’t be a reference. The hole to McLaren was properly over a second within the two laps put collectively, which suggests the gasoline masses have been considerably totally different.
Furthermore, the Ferrari staff principal claims that in races, the Maranello automobile performs higher than in qualifying. Once more, primarily based on the common gaps over the primary three races, we don’t see such a giant distinction in race tempo. We’re speaking in regards to the traditional 3–4 tenths per lap on common — which, actually, have been typically smaller in qualifying. Once more, we wrestle to grasp the rationale for these statements.
The Frenchman’s proud stance
“We’re not right here to be three tenths off pole.” Setting apart the truth that the hole was nearly 4 tenths, even the followers don’t attend races to see Ferrari getting crushed by that margin. However followers can solely watch and assist. Those that even have the ability to alter issues and make a distinction are those inside the staff. They usually should act quick.
Fred Vasseur has a sense — a hunch that factors to the shortcoming to place the whole lot collectively. However nothing modifications, Fred. It’s all the time the identical story. With this automobile, there merely wasn’t extra to be performed. Charles’ phrases are so clear that they categorically contradict Fred Vasseur’s pondering. Then we transfer on to the supposed tyre administration talked about earlier. In response to Ferrari’s boss, the whole lot will depend upon that.
True: this yr greater than ever, tyres are enjoying a key function in efficiency. However ultimately, assuming equal ability in managing them, the sooner automobile will all the time come out on high. And with all due respect to the previous Alfa Romeo boss, we strongly doubt the SF-25 will present higher tempo than McLaren, Crimson Bull or Mercedes. We’d be glad to be confirmed mistaken, after all. Completely happy Easter to everybody — even to Fred.
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