Scuderia Ferrari narrowly missed the rostrum within the 2024 System 1 Belgian Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc ending fourth on monitor at Spa-Francorchamps. This consideration displays the race consequence and driver impressions post-race, with out contemplating George Russell’s disqualification, as his Mercedes W15 automotive was discovered underweight within the FIA inspection after the checkered flag.
Subsequently, Charles Leclerc nonetheless will get a podium, which on monitor slipped away particularly within the final stint when he misplaced tempo in opposition to the 2 Mercedes W15 vehicles of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell and likewise in opposition to the McLaren of Oscar Piastri, who maybe awoke a bit too late. The Monegasque driver definitely had an excellent race total, contemplating the difficulties of the SF-24 single-seater, particularly within the ultimate half when the phenomenon of bouncing resurfaced because the automotive turned lighter on gasoline.
The Belgian Grand Prix was nonetheless very thrilling, with the highest six inside ten seconds: George Russell did one thing unbelievable with a single cease, however it was all nullified by the disqualification, whereas Lewis Hamilton was successfully thwarted by the workforce, which referred to as him in regardless of him explaining that he nonetheless had loads of tire life left. A simple race for Max Verstappen, confirming that the RB20 is not as dominant because it was within the begin of the 2024 System 1 season, whereas Lando Norris, in sixth, ruined his race at first, as soon as once more.
Total, Scuderia Ferrari have to be happy with Charles Leclerc’s efficiency on the 7.004-kilometre Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday. The Monegasque driver confirmed a race tempo that was just like that of Lewis Hamilton for nearly all the Grand Prix, besides within the ultimate laps, when he nonetheless managed to carry off the charging Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, who have been making nice progress at that second. Charles Leclerc managed the exhausting tires excellently, and even with the mediums at first, he stored tempo together with his future Ferrari teammate. Nonetheless, Charles Leclerc is disillusioned to not have secured a podium on monitor.
“I can’t be too pleased with right now’s race as a result of we anticipated to be on par with Mercedes, however we completed behind them,” Charles Leclerc mentioned post-race. “The optimistic aspect is that we managed to maintain the 2 Crimson Bulls and a McLaren behind us. By way of tires and technique, we anticipated way more graining on the Laborious tires, which as a substitute labored effectively, whereas we struggled extra with the mediums.”
“I believed we stopped too early for the primary cease, however in hindsight, the Hards have been very efficient, and as we noticed with George (Russell), a single-stop technique might have been the perfect. Total, although, I feel we did an excellent job staying forward of Max (Verstappen). I hoped for a greater consequence earlier than the break, however that’s the way it goes, and a minimum of I’m certain I squeezed all of the potential out of the automotive.”
Ferrari, Carlos Sainz’s race marked by beginning on hards
Carlos Sainz’s Belgian Grand Prix was virtually sacrificed at first: starting the race on hards didn’t look like a logical transfer for a comeback, particularly contemplating the center stint with the mediums lasted only a few laps. Ultimately, the Spaniard did cross Sergio Perez, however beginning on the yellow tires, he may need had a greater development and completed nearer to his Maranello teammate.
“It was a tricky race,” mentioned the Ferrari Spaniard. “We determined to start out with a special technique than everybody round us. The beginning and the primary stint have been superb, however sadly, we didn’t have sufficient tempo to benefit from them. It’s been a difficult first half of the season for a lot of causes, however I’m certain we’ll come again stronger after the summer season break. Due to all of the followers for his or her assist. See you in Zandvoort.” – the Spaniard identified.
It was anticipated that the SF-24 single-seater would battle on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, but the tempo proven on Sunday, particularly by Charles Leclerc, was not dangerous in any respect. Clearly, it’s not sufficient, judging the automotive as soon as once more because the third or fourth power on monitor. All issues thought-about, Crimson Bull didn’t have a fantastic tempo right now, whereas the Mercedes W15 automotive was fairly shocking. The 2024 System 1 championship is thrilling and goes on a break; we’ll see if the Maranello technicians can collect their ideas to current themselves higher for the final European doubleheader, particularly on the Monza circuit in entrance of the Tifosi, with developments that may make a qualitative leap for the SF-24 automotive, which has sadly clearly regressed over time.
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