Charles Leclerc confident "Ferrari SF-23 can now manage the tires better"

Ferrari, Charles Leclerc hopeful about reducing tire degradation
As the 2023 Formula One season progresses, Scuderia Ferrari has started to avoid making definitive statements. No more “circuits that suit us,” no more projections about the SF-23 car’s performance in the next Grand Prix on the calendar. Charles Leclerc’s statements just after the race at the 7.004-kilometre Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Stavelot explain well the absence of certainties felt in Maranello: “We thought we would do better in Budapest, but we were stronger in Belgium.”

The absence of certainties, while on one hand is not a positive element, on the other, it can be the basis for solving the long-standing issues of the SF-23 single-seater. One particular issue is tire degradation, which has plagued Ferrari for at least a decade. However, the Monegasque driver has the impression that in the last two races (Hungaroring and Spa-Francorchamps), there have been improvements on this front.

Charles Leclerc’s words
“It’s a bit too early to say, but in the past two or three races, we have been managing our tires better. In Spa, we didn’t have huge degradation, and even looking at Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes, I had control of the pace and my tires,” said the Monegasque driver. “From this point of view, everything seemed fine, but we still need to pay attention because sometimes, especially in very particular conditions, we may fall out of the right tire window and struggle.” – Charles Leclerc pointed out following the last race ahead of the summer break.

Driving style on wet tracks
The Ferrari driver then confirmed the changes to his driving style, that allowed him to have much more confidence in mixed conditions, which until a few weeks ago was a difficult challenge to overcome: “It’s very complicated to provide details because they are minimal changes in terms of driving style, but in the end, they made a big difference. I have a very aggressive style, both on wet and dry tracks, which pays off in these two conditions. But when I find myself in mixed conditions with slick tires, it doesn’t work very well. And in the qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, I changed my style and setup: these changes immediately gave me much more confidence, and my lap time improved.” – Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc concluded.

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