When you call yourself Classic Ferrari for sale it is clear that the goal is only one: to win. Charles' podium Leclerc in Azerbaijan, in yet another domain of Red Bull, has however a special meaning. At the end of an exceptional weekend, the Monegasque with Ferrari laid the foundation for a fresh start in the championship.
Ferrari, the track always answers in the end
Pole. Pole. Second place. Podium (virtual). Third place. Podium. These are the results brought home in three days by Charles Leclerc. Baku has its name written a bit, and it doesn't rain on this, but it is also inevitable to see the improvements made on the SF-23 which, in an obviously particular weekend for the Sprint format, saw Ferrari be faster in flying laps than Red Bull. A figure which, in relation to last year, shouldn't be exalted, while if we note the first qualifying sessions of 2023, they show how much work was done in Maranello during the break (which accounts was not).
Waiting for updates…
With a growing Leclerc, and a Ferrari capable of taking pole, one might say that the updates brought by red are starting to bear fruit. In reality, in Baku, thanks to the weekend format, there was no news about the SF-23. Ferrari has preferred to postpone everything from next week, with the first (but not last) elements arriving on the Miami track, to then be divided between Imola and Barcelona. The target? Trying to get even closer to a Red Bull which, however, regardless of the Ferrari improvements, seems to be more and more elusive.
Union work
The absence of real updates on the car provides us with a very interesting interpretation. In the GES of Maranello they worked well on the setup and, as admitted too da Vasseur, they finally managed to: “Join the pieces” – which led the red to conquer the podium. Rhythm is still missing in the race pace, with Ferrari demonstrating that it is not yet ready to aspire to victory, considering the excessive power of the RB19 that was seen both in the Saturday Sprint and in the Sunday race.
Head to Miami with one big goal
However, if Baku served to give a jolt, let's say that Ferrari and Leclerc got busy. With the path identified, only one thing is needed: to stay calm, take the right steps and try to start an ascent that can lead, at least, Ferrari to be unquestionably second force in the championship. Just like Charles Leclerc demonstrated in Azerbaijan. Yes: without discussion.
