Forgettable FP1 and FP2
The first two free practice sessions of the Dutch Grand Prix have not been positive at all for Ferrari, both in terms of lap times and the various difficulties experienced by the drivers behind the wheel of the SF-23. This morning, in fact, Charles Leclerc couldn’t do better than 14th place, and the behavior of the car had also posed significant challenges for Robert Shwartzman, who even ended up at the bottom of the standings after being promoted as the official driver for the single session reserved for rookies.
Reasons for these difficulties
However, the situation did not improve in the afternoon either, with Charles Leclerc in 11th and the returning Carlos Sainz all the way down in 16th. Similar to earlier in the day, both drivers struggled to handle the car both on corner entry and exit, due to an unstable rear end that even sent Carlos Sainz’s SF-23 into the gravel twice, though without any consequences or significant damage.
Ferrari, through Robert Shwartzman and Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur, identified these problems in certain setup and aerodynamic changes planned for Friday and regularly tested at the Zandvoort circuit.
Improving on the Dry Lap
Difficulties that have also been recognized by Charles Leclerc, who furthermore pointed out the areas on which Ferrari will need to work more extensively, especially in anticipation of a qualifying session that could present an additional obstacle like rain: “It’s been a complicated day for the whole team,” he admitted, “but the gaps between the various teams seem quite tight, and we’ve seen that there’s room for improvement in various aspects, especially on the dry lap. We’ll be working intensely on that tonight. The weather for tomorrow promises rain, and we’ll also have to consider this factor. Let’s see what lies ahead.”
Leave a Reply