Charles Leclerc says Ferrari doesn’t perceive the way it turned so aggressive in race trim on the Dutch Grand Prix, after being shocked to complete third at Zandvoort.
Ferrari had a troublesome weekend earlier than the race, with Leclerc qualifying sixth and Carlos Sainz failing to achieve Q3, however each vehicles made spectacular progress on Sunday to rise to 3rd and fifth respectively. Leclerc was capable of maintain off Oscar Piastri for the ultimate podium spot and crossed the road simply 2.5 seconds behind Max Verstappen, however is at a loss as to the place Ferrari’s efficiency got here from.
“That could be a excellent query, and I believe the very best query can be to know why we have been 9 tenths off [in qualifying] and instantly fairly robust [in the race],” Leclerc stated. “The automobile is strictly the identical. [In qualifying] we’ve been struggling like loopy. [In the race], we have been robust. And these are the type of issues that we’ve set to work on.
“I believe as a lot as we analyze each dangerous surprises we’ve throughout a season, we additionally want to know once we do one thing good. For now, I don’t assume as a group we’ve the reason. So it’s an awesome outcome. I’m actually comfortable to be standing on the rostrum. And I believe it’s a very good shock. Nonetheless, we’ve bought to know in an effort to carry out extra typically at our greatest.”
Piastri had been working forward of Leclerc at the beginning of the race however Ferrari pulled off an early first pit cease to undercut each the McLaren and George Russell. Whereas Piastri rapidly cleared Russell after his personal cease he couldn’t get previous Leclerc, one thing that additionally shocked the Ferrari driver.
“It wasn’t [easy], as a result of my engineer was telling me about Oscar’s lap time, which when he was in free air was fairly a bit faster than me, I believe almost a second. Then when he bought nearer, I began to push a bit extra and achieve 5 tenths. And I believe with the soiled air, he most likely misplaced three or 4 tenths.
“He managed to remain behind and to place me fairly underneath strain for 2, three laps, however then couldn’t keep there due to the overheating. It was a very good technique. I didn’t count on to maintain that third place till the tip, however we did a very good job as a group. I don’t assume there was something extra we may have performed.”
With the Italian Grand Prix at Monza this coming weekend, Leclerc admits he’s discovering it robust to have an concept how Ferrari will carry out as it should deliver upgrades to its dwelling race.
“Once more, it’s very, very troublesome to foretell. If you’ll have requested me that query [on Saturday], I’ll have advised you will probably be very troublesome. [Now] is significantly better. If we handle to know what’s happening with our automobile, then I’m fairly optimistic concerning the future. However for now, we don’t fairly have the understanding but.
“We’ve bought an improve coming very quickly. Now I can say usually because Fred [Vasseur] stated it, so will probably be in Monza. And that, I hope, will assist us and assist us shut the hole. However till the upgrades, I all the time stated that the precedence for us was simply to do a harm limitation. And [at Zandvoort], we have been concentrating on P6.
“Realistically, I believe on paper, that’s what we have been combating for. Nonetheless, after three, 4 laps, the tempo was there. And we may do P3, which is an efficient shock once more. So good factors. Nonetheless, now I simply hope that the upgrades helps us to do a step ahead.”
