If the issue with the fuel system on Carlos Sainz’s SF23 single-seater in Qatar went almost unnoticed by critics, Charles Leclerc’s retirement during the formation lap of the 2023 Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos circuit has raised several concerns about reliability at Scuderia Ferrari. Even former Formula 1 driver Timo Glock did not spare criticism for the Maranello team based on what has been seen in the last two grands prix.
Timo Glock targets Ferrari’s reliability after issues in the last two races
“In Brazil, Charles Leclerc was once again in the spotlight for not starting due to the hydraulic problem and the subsequent incident,” said the former German driver in a recent interview for RacingNews365.
“This shouldn’t happen in a top team. If you compare it to Red Bull, they don’t have technical problems, and that’s exactly what’s wrong with Ferrari. If they don’t make a wrong strategic choice, they have a mechanical problem, or a driver makes a mistake. This means Ferrari remains inconsistent because on some circuits, it has the speed to compete.” – he pointed out.
The SF-23 car will be remembered as one of the most mysterious machines built by the Maranello team. A single-seater capable, at times, of showing great speed and then completely losing it as soon as an unforeseen variable comes into play. Undoubtedly, the car has made strides compared to the terrible start of the 2023 Formula 1 season, with Carlos Sainz likely to be the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race in 2023. The victory in Singapore, however, remains a consolation prize, considering the pre-season expectations.
“Max is achieving very high-level performances, and it’s incredibly clear that he’s breaking several records,” adds Timo Glock. “This puts Red Bull in a strong strategic position, as they can extend a stint by five or eight laps.”
“The others are in a difficult situation, and Ferrari needs to raise the level and figure out how to improve the car for next year in all areas.”
Even if Ferrari unveils a significantly more competitive car than the SF23, it will still be very challenging to compete with Red Bull in 2024. The Austrians have indeed halted development on the RB19 well in advance to maintain the technical advantage at the beginning of next year.
Source: f1ingenerale
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