Ferrari fans brace themselves as the team grapples with potential setbacks ahead of the Monaco GP.
- Recent struggles in qualifying raise concerns for Ferrari, with only one front row start in nine attempts this season.
- Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc voice frustrations over car performance, with issues persisting around tire management.
- Team leader Fred Vasseur acknowledges the importance of improving Saturday’s performance, especially with Monaco’s unique demands.
- Leclerc remains cautious about repeating last year’s victory, as Ferrari seeks solutions to its qualifying dilemmas.
Ferrari enthusiasts are on edge as the team prepares for the critical qualifying session at the Monaco Grand Prix. With the stakes higher than ever, the team’s recent performance woes have become increasingly apparent. Their difficulties in securing a strong qualifying position have been a significant hurdle, with just one front row start in nine sessions this year, a stark contrast to their strengths last season.
Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have expressed their dissatisfaction with the car’s current form. Hamilton, starting in P12 at Imola, remarked that his SF-25 “just can’t go quicker,” while Leclerc, a single position ahead, described their situation as “just P-nowhere at the moment.” The drivers struggled to optimize the new soft Pirellis, which failed to enhance their performance during the Q2 session.
Despite a marginally better performance on race day, where Hamilton finished fourth and Leclerc sixth, the underlying issues in qualifying remain a concern. Team boss Fred Vasseur has acknowledged the frustrations, emphasizing the necessity of focusing efforts on improving Saturday’s performance. He noted, “We have to [have] much more performance on Saturday. Monaco is probably a bit different on tyre management.”
Vasseur pointed to the need for a unique approach to tire preparation at the Monaco circuit, especially given its history where qualifying positions are pivotal. Since 1950, the race has largely been dominated by those starting from the front, with the pole position yielding the winner 32 times out of 70 races. With this in mind, the importance of a solid qualifying round cannot be overstated.
Leclerc, who has experienced the joy of winning his home race, remains skeptical about a repeat victory. He admits that Monaco’s track uniquely exposes the car’s weaknesses, saying, “I think Monaco is exposing quite a few weaknesses of our car, so I don’t know.” However, he remains hopeful, acknowledging that the unpredictability of Monaco could yet play a role in their favor.
As the Monaco Grand Prix looms, Ferrari must address their qualifying challenges to stay competitive in the race.
