The Spanish weekend opens with the usual interviews for the drivers on Thursday in Barcelona. The sport has quickly moved from Monaco to the Iberian land where, for Aston Martin man Fernando Alonso and Scuderia Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, it’s time for their home Grand Prix. However, the track offers opportunities for data collection and confirmation for the engineers. Those who introduced updates in Monaco will want to understand the real value of these upgrades, such as Mercedes with new side pods and front suspension. But it will be Ferrari, above all, that attracts the most attention, and the first statements from Charles Leclerc come from Barcelona.
Charles Leclerc: “Updates, a first step in the right direction”
The first voice coming from Spain is that of Charles Leclerc, echoing what the Team Principal had said during the usual press conference to introduce the weekend. “In Barcelona, we will have an update package that aims not to increase the car’s downforce, but to make it more consistent and drivable during the race,” said Frederic Vasseur. It’s a vision shared by his driver, who uses the same terms to describe what the Maranello team will introduce on the SF-23 for this Barcelona weekend.
“We don’t expect a miracle, we won’t go from being sixth to first with this update, but it’s a small step in the right direction. Our car is very peaky: in Qualifying, when everything works with new tires, it’s okay, but when we step out of this window, we lose downforce and consistency. We are working on improving this aspect,” explained the Monegasque driver, not hiding the disappointment of this start to the championship but remaining confident for the future. “The expectations were to fight for the championship after 2022, but the beginning of the season has been disappointing. However, I don’t think we need to start all over again.” – the Ferrari pointed out during Thursday media with the journalists at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.
A small step in the right direction, without revolutionizing but approaching the Red Bull concept. Ferrari is seeking consistency in the race, which, for some reason, the SF-23 has never had. “We didn’t even understand why this was happening, but then we started to understand and focused on this aspect, and the updates in Barcelona should help us improve.” The Monegasque driver has already tested the updates in the simulator. “Nothing revolutionary, but it seems good, although these updates can provide more advantages on the track than in the simulator because they involve drivability, and there are many more variables on the track than in the simulator.” – The Ferrari driver added.
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Leclerc: “Good race management in Monaco. Vasseur is making many small changes that make a difference.”
The home Grand Prix for Charles didn’t go as he expected. On Saturday, not only did the SF-23 not give him the opportunity to secure pole position – despite coming just over a tenth of a second behind Max Verstappen’s lap time – but the mistake from the pit wall, particularly from Xavi Marcos, caused impeding on Lando Norris, resulting in a three-grid penalty. A few days later, the Ferrari driver analyzed the situation, also discussing race management and expressing his satisfaction with the Maranello team’s work.
“On Saturday, a mistake was made which we have reviewed and are working to ensure it doesn’t happen again, but from my side of the garage, race management was very good, without mistakes. Last year, strategy was a problem for us, but this year it has been better, although in some weekends it has been slightly worse than usual. But I’m happy with how things are going this year.”
The questions about the relationship between the Monegasque driver and his new boss, Frederic Vasseur, whom he has already worked with at Alfa Romeo, resurface cyclically. “Our relationship is very good; we have known each other for a long time. He is very honest and direct, which I like, and I think it helps me grow in the long term. His entry into Ferrari was delicate. There was no need for major changes, but rather small things that, when combined, make a difference.”
However, Charles Leclerc also confirmed the team principal’s intention to strengthen the Maranello team with engineers from other teams. “Fred has been very clear about wanting to reinforce the team with people coming from other teams, and this is also important to have different new perspectives.” – Charles Leclerc concluded, ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix.
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