We have reached the seventh stage of the 2024 calendar with the most awaited event since last year, which saw the Imola Grand Prix 2023 canceled due to the heavy flood that hit Emilia Romagna. Like every self-respecting F1 weekend, the Enzo and Dino Ferrari racetrack opens its doors to the first rendezvous: the media day, with interviews with the protagonists of the weekend. Despite not having taken part in the drivers' conference in Imola, Charles Leclerc was interviewed by the media present, including Motorsport.com. So let's look at Leclerc's words.
Il Imola GP it is important for the Ferrari not only because it plays at home, but above all because it is the team's debut SF24 Evo. Unlike the other teams, the red team had not yet brought any updates to the previous races, achieving an excellent result in the same way. The updates tested on the track during the filming day at Fiorano last week will see a new SF24. However, this is not the only news in garage number 16. Before arriving in Imola, in fact, Charles Leclerc had to say goodbye to his track engineer, Xavi Marcos. From this weekend Charles will be followed by Bryan Bozzi. A move that caused a lot of surprise given the timing - with the season underway. Obviously, questions about the reasons for this decision are inevitable.
Xavi's farewell, and Bozzi's promotion
Il Monegasque number 16 he leader of the prancing horse during the media day of the Imola GP, however, stated that he had nothing to do with Xavi's departure: “We have always had a close relationship, always working well together. This is a great promotion for Bryan, I'm happy. Once I understood that that was the choice of the team and Xavi, I was aware that Bozzi was the perfect person for the role of track engineer and I am very confident that he will do very well from the start. It was a choice made by Xavi and the team. Together they made the decision to split up and I was informed of it immediately after Miami."
Leclerc on updates
Ferrari hopes to take a step forward thanks to the updates that have changed much of the SF-24. However, according to Leclerc, these updates do not arise from the evaluations of the first races of the season, and for this reason it is difficult to believe that they will solve some problems:
“In the first part of the championship we struggled a little more in the slow corners. These updates had been conceived months before, so iThe target of this package is not yet updated with today's evidence, but it should be a step forward. I hope you see the full potential of the car. I don't know what the actual value of this package will be, because we tested it mostly in the simulator. It's certainly a step forward, but on the internet I have seen numbers that are decidedly larger than they are in reality. We will take small steps in the right direction. Having said this, I hope that the data we expect will be confirmed in Imola, even if it is not the ideal track to find out and perhaps we will have to wait for other tracks before seeing the full value of the new features."
Leclerc dreams of Pole in Imola
So far there has been no story, the poles have gone to only one driver, Max Verstappen. Charles Leclerc, however, hopes to break this chain in Imola, in his home race, where two years ago he arrived as world championship leader.
“The desire certainly isn't lacking. Both in China and in Miami in qualifying I found the right sensations, but when you are within a tenth of a second, the separation line becomes very thin, not only for me because the operating window of the tires has become very narrow. Every weekend is a story in itself, but I think a good job was done in the formation lap: I improved a lot and I saw it in the results. I'm confident but if you have to continue to work hard. Today there is a Red Bull in much better shape than two years ago, even though it was very strong in Imola. The situation is very different, but since we are very close in qualifying we can try to make the difference. It's important to know how to take advantage of curbs and make upgrades work. In Imola when you start from the front it's a good sign: I'd be lying if I didn't say that the target is pole position and I'll do everything to get it. Then we'll see how it goes..."
Source statements: Motorsport.com
