Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz admit they have been at a loss to elucidate why they may not match the tempo of their rivals on the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Leclerc got here dwelling fifth, enhancing one place on his qualifying place, however was over half a minute behind race winner Max Verstappen, who minimize his means by way of the sphere to take victory from seventeenth.
Whereas Leclerc’s weekend was forgettable, Sainz’s was depressing as he crashed out in each qualifying and the race earlier than being hit with a stewards’ reprimand for harmful driving as he tried to drive off in his stricken Ferrari regardless of marshals already being on the scene.
The result in Brazil was as gloomy because the weekend climate, particularly contemplating Sainz’s victory in Mexico and Leclerc’s success in Austin on the different races throughout F1’s newest triple-header.
“I’ve at all times been a really robust driver within the moist however for some purpose, ever since I’ve tried this automobile within the moist, I’ve by no means had a superb feeling with it,” defined Sainz.
“I do not know if we simply do not put vitality into the tyres, we run it too stiff within the medium to excessive pace, or what it’s. It’s clear that it is vitally tough and unpredictable to drive.
Marshals take away the broken automobile of Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, after a crash
Photograph by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Photos
“I am happy that Charles managed to convey it dwelling in P5. I heard he was additionally struggling, so a little bit of a nightmare the entire race, however hopefully, some dry races developing and we’ll attempt to go for it.”
Leclerc was ready to shoulder a number of the blame for the poor efficiency however was happy that his fifth place retains Ferrari second within the constructors’ standings, the place it sits 36 factors behind leaders McLaren.
“Actually in no way,” the Monegasque replied when requested if the automobile didn’t just like the moist or intermediate tyre in the course of the race.
“I feel I am partly guilty as a result of clearly we resolve the set-ups with along with the group. I wished to go in a route, nonetheless it was the improper one, for positive. The tempo was simply not there, whether or not it was in qualifying, the place I feel in qualifying, we really weren’t too dangerous.
“With the brand new tyres, low gas, you may extract extra out of the automobile, however within the race, we have been nowhere – and greater than being nowhere, it was extraordinarily tough to drive, extraordinarily tough to not do any errors.
“On the finish, all this, the one factor we may very well be a little bit bit happy of is being in entrance of the 2 McLarens and to solely lose 4 factors within the constructors is huge harm limitation on the weekend the place they appear to be so robust.”
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photos
Ferrari has been in wonderful type of late and will nonetheless declare a primary constructors’ crown since 2008 if they’ll reel in and go McLaren within the closing weeks of the season – beginning in Las Vegas later this month.
“We shall be alive till the very finish,” added Sainz. “Three weekends now developing which can be going to be essential for the entire group and now we have to refocus, regroup and see how we will strategy these final three races in the very best means.”
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