Ferrari split in Barcelona: Lewis Hamilton rebounds, Charles Leclerc plays the long game | F1 Spanish GP. Ferrari shows contrasting approaches in Barcelona.

Despite a third and a fourth row not being exactly the best calling card, Ferrari has taken this result and now looks ahead to today’s race with confidence. If the Maranello team executes its race plan to perfection, it’s not so far-fetched to think they could snatch the third step of the podium, knowing that—in a straightforward race—the top two positions will likely be taken by the papaya-colored cars.

Starting from fifth will be Lewis Hamilton, who managed to prevail over his teammate, although it must be pointed out that the strategy adopted by Charles Leclerc—seventh—still benefited the Briton’s result (we’ll talk more about this shortly).

In any case, the Stevenage native has, in a sense, shown the first signs of awakening after a very complicated start to the season; precisely because of a feeling with the SF-25 that is still far from optimal, until a few weeks ago it wasn’t even a given that Lewis could simply finish ahead of two rookies like Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar. Let’s be clear: it’s obviously not enough for a seven-time World Champion and for a team like Ferrari, but you have to start somewhere, right?

The sacrifice that becomes a weapon for Sunday
Unlike his teammate who played all his cards on single-lap pace, Charles Leclerc instead made a conservative choice focused on the race. As he himself stated, the Monegasque in fact decided—on his own initiative—to forgo a Q3 attempt in order to save a set of softs. Car number 16 will therefore be able to rely on a tire that is technically classified as used, but which has in fact only completed one outlap (done in Q2 before he realized he wouldn’t need another timed lap to advance).

The Monte Carlo native will likely choose to use it at the start of the Grand Prix to immediately try to overtake those ahead of him and latch onto the slipstream of the podium contenders. Considering Mercedes’ recurring difficulties in race pace—which were again confirmed here in Barcelona—and the similar long runs carried out during free practice, the fight for third place really does seem like it will be between the two Ferrari drivers and Max Verstappen who, as he admitted, will be more focused on looking in his mirrors than at the two McLaren cars in front.