If someone had theorized a Ferrari front row before the Mexican Grand Prix qualifying session, they would probably have been considered crazy. The performance of the SF-23 surprised everyone, from fans to analysts. But above all, it left Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz astonished, as they aimed to overcome difficulties on a track that, initially, wasn’t expected to favor the Italian car. You only need to go back to Thursday and reread the words of the Monegasque to realize it.
However, at the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, Ferrari wrote a sports page that won’t be easily forgotten. Of course, it’s only halfway because the car’s struggles during the race are well known. But with one surprise after another, who knows, maybe it could be another Singapore-like performance to give a different meaning to a suffering World Championship. Behind the duo of the Prancing Horse, there’s Max Verstappen lurking, and that doesn’t let Ferrari fans sleep soundly. But, certainly, it’s better to have him close behind than to see his exhaust pipes already under the traffic lights.
The Scuderia’s goal was to try and catch up with Mercedes. For now, all the elements are in place to do so, especially considering that Lewis Hamilton is in sixth place, and George Russell is eighth. The McLarens, a major disappointment of the day, were left behind, with Lando Norris starting from the penultimate row and Oscar Piastri in seventh.
Ferrari, Mexican GP: Winning Progress
Under the leadership of Frédéric Vasseur, Ferrari has claimed four pole positions. The one in Mexico City is certainly the least expected and perhaps, for this reason, the most satisfying. Also, it’s combined with Carlos Sainz securing the front row, staying very close to his teammate, whose performance on a flying lap never ceases to amaze.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t have expected this improvement; I’d be dishonest if I said otherwise,” said the French team manager, speaking to Sky and showing justified elation. “Yesterday [Friday], we performed poorly; this morning, we were in better form, but we also encountered some impediments. In the race, it’s a different story, but it’s always better to start with the cars on the front row and not at the back. In Mexico, one must also consider the temperature of the brakes and the engine. I believe that cooling was essential for everyone to push the limits, but we’ll see tomorrow.”
Indeed, the potential of the SF-23 had been concealed during the third practice session due to two almost simultaneous impediments affecting Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. Clearly, no one expected the car to have the potential to secure the front row, even though it was noticed that Red Bull lacked the luster of its better days.
The secret to this result lies in tire management, which is usually the Italian car’s Achilles’ heel. It’s a sign that the Ferrari team has worked extensively to find the necessary answers to technical questions that may, however, resurface during the race when it’s much more challenging to keep everything within the parameters.
“I’ve been more optimistic than Charles since this morning. We had a good final lap, but it was difficult to predict what the result would be. It depended on the tires in the last sector, but I’ve always been very optimistic. We took risks at the beginning, starting with the mediums, but let’s say that the drivers managed to fine-tune their driving in the final part and handle the tires even in the last corners,” concluded the French team principal.
Ferrari Front Row: Almost Unbelievable Drivers
The general feeling at the end of the qualifying session is astonishment. “Pole position? I absolutely wasn’t thinking about it; I didn’t expect it,” admitted Charles Leclerc. “In the end, everything aligned, and we found speed, and now I need to focus on tomorrow because the pole is nice, but we have to win, and it will be very difficult. We must focus on ourselves; we had a good pace all weekend. It will be a tough race; let’s see how it goes. We are in first place, and I don’t know if I was the best overall, but I’m happy with today’s result.”
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Carlos Sainz, who appeared to struggle during the practice sessions, suddenly took control of the situation, completing the front row that makes the fans of the Scuderia dream. “The session was very strange. In fact, the entire weekend has been. Suddenly I improved by a tenth, and I had trouble understanding why I was slower before and then suddenly faster.”
“It’s also hard to understand the feeling with the tires; they were really strange. But in the end, we managed to put ourselves in a good position for tomorrow. The race? We’re definitely not strong with a lot of fuel; we know we have the Red Bulls behind us. But starting at the front is a big advantage. We’ll give our best.”
The Spanish driver, in bold, is being realistic, well aware that the RB19 shines when the distances extend. Before the Parc Fermé regime came into effect, Ferrari adjusted the setups to fine-tune the setup to fully exploit the car’s capabilities in the S3 section, where traction made the difference. Ferrari’s front row is, therefore, a wholly unexpected one, especially after the last practice sessions had instilled many doubts in drivers, technicians, and engineers.
In the race, it will be known that they are not the favorites, especially considering what emerged from the long runs in the practice sessions. But starting from the front and competing head-to-head with Verstappen is an undeniable advantage. The goal is the second place in the Constructors’ Championship, and having a Mercedes at a safe distance is a card that cannot be wasted.
Source: Diego Catalano for FUnoanalisitecnica
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