Azerbaijan is defined as the land of fires, but today in qualifying at the Baku City Circuit, Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc, who took the SF21 in front of everyone for the second time in a row, warmed the hearts of Ferrari fans.
The Monegasque was the protagonist of an excellent qualifying, resulting in the best performance conditioned also in this case by the red flag, as Charles redeemed himself after the small crash that took place yesterday during the second free practice. Today’s pole, however, takes on a completely different meaning compared to that scored on the streets of Monte Carlo, on an atypical track (unique from a technical point of view) that seemed tailor-made for the technical characteristics of the Maranello’s car.
On paper, in fact, the Azerbaijani track seemed not at all suitable for the SF21 and the drivers themselves had expressed many doubts about the degree of competitiveness of the car, but once again the track’s judgment was unquestionable. On a circuit, albeit a city one, but with several long straights, Ferrari responded with a strong pace, including the power unit front. An area that last year represented a real issue in Maranello.
If twelve months ago the finger was pointed at a team that seemed adrift, and almost forced to passively accept the course of events (like the agreement with the FIA), it is right to underline the great progress that is allowing Ferrari to achieve these results, which no one could have imagined this winter. Ferrari, step by step, is returning to being Ferrari: and that’s what everyone was asking of a team that in 2020 was too bad to be true.
Clearly tomorrow the work will have to be completed, even if it will not be easy for Charles Leclerc to hold off two strong rivals like Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, to finally close the unfortunate circle opened with the Monte Carlo crash. The Maranello team has another great opportunity ahead, especially to consolidate an advantage over McLaren that on the shores of the Black Sea is behind the Italian side. The hope is that Ferrari has seriously treasured the lesson from Monaco. Not taking advantage of this opportunity, or rather not playing it, would be a mistake. A serious mistake.
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