The qualifying session for the Brazilian Grand Prix was chaotic, and two certainties emerged: Max Verstappen secured pole position, and Charles Leclerc, in his Ferrari, came very close to achieving a spectacular hat-trick, just missing out. Nevertheless, considering the equipment at his disposal, starting from the front row is an achievement worth celebrating, further confirming the driver’s ability to excel on the push lap. With yesterday’s performance, the Monegasque driver now has 30 career front-row starts, putting him in the sights of Niki Lauda, who had 31.
The lap times, aided by the relatively short track (4.309 meters), were remarkably close, resulting in a Q1 classification that set a sort of record. It became the tightest in Formula 1 history, with only 185 thousandths of a second separating the fastest time from the 15th qualifier. Q3 was cut short due to an approaching rainstorm that made the situation increasingly threatening. Only one attempt was allowed for the Ferrari drivers, and those who went out earlier were rewarded.
Charles skillfully capitalized on the timing despite challenging driving conditions due to the increasing wind. His time of 1’11″021 secured him the front row. Carlos posted a time of 1’11″989, which determined an eighth-place start. However, due to a two-position penalty for George Russell’s Mercedes W14, Carlos Sainz will begin in seventh place, as Russell impeded another driver during Q1.
Ferrari, Leclerc – Sainz: A Matter of Details
Sainz couldn’t help but feel dissatisfied considering the missed opportunity, largely influenced by his decision to go out on track when conditions were at their worst. The sudden drop in temperatures and increasing wind intensity inevitably limited the operational window for the SF-23, a car that doesn’t adapt well to rapidly changing conditions. Carlos needed to create a gap from his competitors to complete a clean lap. When Charles Leclerc began his attempt, Carlos Sainz was still at Junçao, and the difference came down to this detail.
“We were unlucky with the weather; we were one of the last cars to leave the pits. Our tires were cold, and as the temperatures dropped further, rain was on its way, and the wind intensity increased… We were simply unlucky. Our Q2 pace was not bad. Of course, it’s disappointing because we went out very late and missed an opportunity.
“I was eighth in the queue to leave, and I qualified eighth. Those behind me finished ninth and tenth. It was clear that the later we went out, the slower the track became; it wasn’t ideal conditions. Interlagos is a track that favors overtaking, and the good top speed of the Ferrari could bring car #55 back into the battle for second place in the Constructors’ Championship, challenging Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes.”
The tone was quite different in the other Ferrari garage. Charles Leclerc continues to impress with an unexpected front-row start, once again showcasing his innate qualifying skills. “Honestly, I’m happy,” began the former Sauber driver, “because I’ve never experienced such conditions in my entire career. I can’t even explain them. Once the storm arrived, there was no grip, and the wind was coming from all directions.
“It was unclear where the traction was, and we lost a lot, but I still managed to put together the lap. The track wasn’t wet, but it felt like it, very strange. Securing second place is a pleasant surprise, and I’ll do my best to make the most of it. Let’s see how it goes on Sunday.” In the meantime, there’s a sprint day to face with more favorable weather conditions. Perhaps we’ll truly understand the potential of the Italian car.
Ferrari: Frédéric Vasseur Partially Satisfied
The French team principal, without assigning blame, admitted to Sky Sport’s microphones that Carlos Sainz was disadvantaged by untimely decisions. This situation might have been challenging to manage differently, given the simultaneous presence of ten cars on a relatively short track. “Charles had an excellent qualifying session and was always at the front from Q1. It was different for Carlos because he went out later in Q3, and in those conditions, he encountered stronger winds than the others. The last three drivers to leave the pit were also the last three in the standings: it’s no coincidence.”
The early end to qualifying due to bad weather allowed Ferrari to save a set of soft tires for the Sprint Shootout. “This is good news and represents a good start to the weekend,” Fred explained, bringing everyone’s focus back to the maximum because “old rivals” returned yesterday, believed to be definitively defeated: the Aston Martin drivers, who surprisingly monopolized the second row, with a resurgent Lance Stroll ahead of Fernando Alonso.
“We shouldn’t underestimate Aston Martin. They were doing well from the morning, and now they’re up there. In qualifying, they had the advantage of encountering the wind later by going out earlier, but I don’t want to underestimate them. At least we won’t be sandwiched between Verstappen and Perez.”
The real unknown for the São Paulo weekend is the SF-23’s race pace. During the sole free practice session, there wasn’t much focus on consistent runs, so tonight’s race will also provide a measure of the car’s potential. It’s a kind of leap into the unknown that everyone must get used to with this format. “I think we’ll have a clearer picture of race pace after the Sprint, which will be the first long stint we do.” Hopefully, this time the car won’t struggle too much with tire management on a track that is very demanding in that regard.
Source: Diego Catalano for FUnoanalisitecnica
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