The latest race at the Chinese Grand Prix revealed challenges for Ferrari.
- Despite a surprising sprint race win by Hamilton, the main race showed Ferrari’s limitations.
- Leclerc expressed some doubts regarding the true potential of their current setup.
- Ferrari’s qualifying setbacks reflect ongoing performance inconsistencies.
- Both Leclerc and Hamilton aim for improvement amidst their current standings.
In the recent Chinese Grand Prix, Ferrari’s fight for dominance took an unexpected turn. While Lewis Hamilton managed to snag a victory in the sprint race, his success was not mirrored in the main event where both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc secured the fifth and sixth positions respectively. Hamilton’s achievement in the sprint appeared as an anomaly, contrasting with Ferrari’s usual performances.
Charles Leclerc pointed out the performance limitations, stating, “This afternoon, I think the potential was just not there.” Despite this, Leclerc acknowledged Hamilton’s impressive sprint win as an outlier amidst an otherwise lackluster display by Ferrari. The team’s earlier performance in Australia echoed similar constraints, leaving Leclerc to speculate that a consistent gap of three tenths was evident in their current capability.
Leclerc’s struggle in the sprint race, finishing behind George Russell, highlighted the difficulties Ferrari faced under racing conditions. Dirty air complications and managing tire performance were significant obstacles. “The tyre management looked good, but being in dirty air is always trickier,” Leclerc admitted, underscoring the challenges of racing closely behind competitors without compromising their own car’s performance.
The setup modifications attempted by Hamilton also brought attention to Ferrari’s struggles. These changes made Hamilton’s car handle unpredictably, affecting its balance according to different track conditions. Hamilton remarked, “You want a car that’s balanced… instead of lock up and go on or snap into oversteer.” This unpredictability forced the drivers to tread carefully, highlighting the need for a more stable and reliable car setup.
With Leclerc and Hamilton starting mid-grid for the race, finding effective free air remains a critical strategy. Leclerc emphasized the importance of maintaining clear track space to leverage their race pace effectively: “We just need to try and find free air from where we start… hopefully our race pace is better than the guys around.” Such challenges underscore the cautious optimism surrounding Ferrari’s future races.
Ferrari’s performance at the Chinese Grand Prix signals necessary improvements amidst competitive pressures.
