It was supposed to be Lewis Hamilton’s team. And yet, judging by what we’ve seen in recent weeks, Ferrari still seems to be Charles Leclerc’s team, who finished fourth in Saudi Arabian GP qualifying. After a season start complicated by media pressure surrounding the arrival of his new teammate, the Monegasque driver is slowly finding a balance that allows him to consistently stay just behind the podium spots.
A podium that continues to elude him and which, according to driver number 16, still seems like the highest achievable goal for the race in Jeddah. The SF-25, after a Friday that had brought a smile to Leclerc’s face, ended up about three-tenths behind the pole position claimed by Max Verstappen.
A gap that, according to Team Principal Fred Vasseur, lies entirely in the first two corners. From the very first practice sessions, the Maranello team did not seem comfortable, particularly in the initial section of the Saudi circuit. This was confirmed in qualifying, where Lewis Hamilton almost failed to make it into Q3.
Charles Leclerc reveals the top goal
At the end of Saturday in Jeddah, Charles Leclerc assessed the situation at Ferrari, revealing the highest goal they can realistically aim for at the Saudi Arabian GP: “I’m not happy with fourth place. I’m satisfied with how I drove and with figuring out how to get the most out of the car. Unfortunately, this is the best we can do at the moment,” said the Monegasque. “We just don’t have the grip needed to match the speed of our rivals. We need to analyze the situation thoroughly and understand why these things are happening.” – the Ferrari driver added.
“I’m not expecting miracles for the race, but if we get a good start, I think a podium could be within reach. I’ll give everything to make it happen,” Charles Leclerc added.
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