Was it reasonable to expect more from Ferrari? Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz took fifth and sixth place respectively in qualifying for the Spanish GP. A result due to errors but, as Frederic Vasseur explains at the end of qualifying in Spain, also due to the plan to keep a new set of tires for the race. Over the course of the 66 laps scheduled for Montmelò, the Red team will therefore have to try to rebuild the weekend and at least reach the podium starting from the good performances seen in free practice.
Vasseur: “We can catch up with Mercedes and fight for the podium”
Four different Polemans in four qualifications. With such narrow gaps, every little element can make the difference between a first and a third row. Suffice it to say that Pole, or rather the front row considering the gaps from the rest of the group, was decided by a slipstream game.
Tomorrow Ferrari will also start behind the two Mercedes but will have a set of fresh tires available, as Vasseur explains at the end of qualifying in Spain:“First of all we decided to save a set of tyres, which Mercedes didn't do and I think it will be an advantage for the first stint.”
However, Ferrari could have aspired to a better result according to Vasseur who also spoke of an error that cost Charles Leclerc a few tenths and perhaps third place. Despite this, in the race the Maranello team will do everything possible to get on the podium, also being able to take advantage of the good pace seen in free practice.
“We're a bit disappointed because Charles made a mistake in Turn 5 and I think we lost an easy third place with that mistake but it's part of the game. We are all so close, you have to push and mistakes are paid for in the end. I'm not a big fan of this type of track with these long curves but overall we did some good qualifying. We have to get everything together for tomorrow, plus the temperature will be a little colder tomorrow. Let's hope that this time everything goes in the right direction. For the race? We have the pace, we can at least overtake the two Mercedes to get the podium."
Vasseur: “Updates? have less impact than tire management"
Did Ferrari expect more from the updates? Vasseur answers the question in the negative, also explaining the reasons: “With the updates I didn't expect to be closer to McLaren, because the others also bring parts. But also why on this track the impact on tire management is greater than the impact the updates have. It's important to have a couple of tenths more or less, but in the end it's important to bring home a few points tomorrow. We know that it will be like this until the end of the season, we will have ups and downs."
Source statements: sky sports f1
