Friday brought mixed results for Ferrari. While Charles Leclerc appeared competitive right from the start, Carlos Sainz faced more challenges. The Spanish driver, likely hindered by a technical issue during the first practice, was forced to stay in the pit for a quarter of the session. In general, it didn’t seem like a perfect adaptation to the Mexican track.
In the first practice session, both Ferrari drivers tested prototype Hard and Soft tires. However, the best times were achieved with the softer compound, the C5: 1’20”297 for the Monegasque driver, who completed 30 laps, and 1’20”479 for the Spaniard, who was slowed down by a hydraulic issue. The Italian team resolved it quickly, allowing him to complete 23 laps and follow the planned program.
In FP2, both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz continued their work with prototype tires before switching to Medium and Soft compounds. They achieved their best times with these tires, recording 1’18”952 (P3) and 1’19”257 (P11), respectively. In the last third of the session, both drivers loaded fuel and used Medium tires. Charles completed 33 laps in total, one less than Carlos.
The results, especially for the No. 16 car, were encouraging for long-run pace. After an initial loss of performance, the tires regained consistency. This is a good starting point, considering that tire degradation management is the main issue of the SF-23 project.
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc Satisfied, Carlos Sainz Seeking the Right Setup
The third practice session (19:30 Italian time, 11:30 local time) will be crucial in defining the setup that the Italian engineers have been working on during the Mexican night. After the customary driver briefings, it’s now up to the engineers. Charles Leclerc didn’t hide his satisfaction after a solid Friday.
“It’s been a positive day where we managed to test everything we had planned. We’ve tested all the tire compounds and worked on the setup. Since it’s only Friday, I think there’s still work to do for qualifying and the race. We’ll analyze all the data collected and work to make progress tomorrow.” This was the brief comment from the Monegasque driver, who preferred to stay focused on the crucial sessions ahead.
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The first two hours of work for Carlos Sainz were more challenging. The Madrid native didn’t appear entirely satisfied. “It was a demanding Friday: we also tested prototype tires, and this usually mixes things up a bit. Despite a minor issue in FP1, we managed to complete the planned program, and we’re satisfied with that. There’s still some work to do before qualifying, so we’ll focus on the data before getting back in the car for the final practice session.”
Ferrari: Aiming for Optimal Power Unit Thermal Management
Frédéric Vasseur preaches calm and aims for a weekend without hiccups. Judging from what he said on Friday in Mexico City, he doesn’t see beating Mercedes as an impossibility. “It’s still a bit early to understand if we can challenge Red Bull this weekend. We’re all struggling a bit to find the ideal cooling solutions, and this could have different impacts on various cars, but we’ll have a clearer picture tomorrow.”
According to the former Sauber team principal, the game also revolves around the engine’s performance, a very delicate aspect when you’re at an altitude of over 2000 meters with significantly rarefied air. This is not an ideal condition for thermal dissipation or the proper functioning of components like the turbo. Reliability and performance must be finely balanced, and Friday served that purpose too.
“With this format, we return to something we know well, but it’s the same for everyone. We’ve had good weekends with the Sprint format, especially at Spa and Spielberg. Austin was more challenging, but we finished with pole position and a podium. Today, we’re very focused on engine and brake cooling to avoid power unit management during the race.”
“This will be a key point of the weekend. It’s always an advantage in battles to have high straight-line speed, but there’s tire degradation, and we need a good setup compromise. Leclerc was consistent in the early laps of the long run, which means there’s already a good compromise, although I haven’t discussed it with him yet.” These are the considerations of the French manager, who provided some additional insights compared to the seemingly reserved Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
Source: Diego Catalano for FUnoanalisitecnica
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