Ferrari a Spielberg experienced a dramatic ending, from the flames that engulfed the F1-75 of Sainz to victory with a bad pedal from Leclerc. Proven Reliability against performance, the team is still missing something to get it right equilibrium between both. Despite this, the smile returned to the face of the Monegasque who, even after 3 months of abstinence from victories, had never given up hope of being able to fight again with Max. On the track as in the world, who now sees them again side by side with 38 lengths of distance. Charles Leclerc's words at the end of the race are what one would expect from a driver who is first and foremost a team man. That he doesn't accept disappointing himself as he doesn't accept disappointing others.
Charles' feat
Charles often lives with the various difficulties and this is a baggage that allowed him to achieve victory in Austria. Where there are problems, the Monegasque acts and manages, where he can, to compensate for them with impressive stubbornness. Even today something went wrong but Leclerc managed to accomplish a real feat which culminated on the top step of the podium. That step as high as the difficulty it cost him, starting with the internal fight on Saturday which nearly threatened to screw up the whole weekend. "Today was a great race " says Leclerc commenting hot. “The pace was there at the beginning, we had a good fight with Max. In the end it was incredibly difficult because I had a problem with the accelerator. It stuck at low speed at 20-30%. It was complicated, but I managed to get the car to the finish line and I'm very happy."
Sainz's problems
Sainz's problems on the reliability front are a alarm bell. A symptom that there is still something to be resolved on that front. The only positive note is the out of Perez, which from a manufacturers point of view does not make much difference. A brace in Austria would have had another weight, more just considering also the great commitment of Sainz, who compared to the beginning of the championship has begun to get closer to his partner. Seeing Sainz with the engine on fire also sparked a little concern for Charles, who simultaneously started complaining about the accelerator. “Problems Sainz? Yes, I started having them at the same time, so I certainly had in my head what happened to him. I knew it wasn't an engine problem, it was just the pedal that was giving me bizarre sensations. First I couldn't bring it up, but then it didn't go back to zero. But luckily I was able to take him to the end of the race.”
The fight for the world championship
With Perez and Sainz out Charles got behind the Verstappen, for a fairer comparison, considering everything that has been stolen from Charles, between team mistakes and car problems. The internal struggle with Sainz could end here, given the gap between the two, but this is now not a problem for the Monegasque who sees only those in front of him as a rival. Winning in Austria, fiefdom Red Bull it is a small but great revenge for Charles, betrayed by the team at his home in Monaco. In addition, the good pace of the Reds in the last few races, also considering the evolutionary steps of the RB18 they only fuel the hopes of the team that started the July tour de force with a double success – not counting the Sprint.
"Title fight? It was a necessary victory, the last few races had been extremely difficult for me and for the team. Being able to show that car he has the pace and that we can win was incredible. We have to keep pushing until the end" concludes Charles.
Statement source: Formula Passion
