It certainly wasn’t the smoothest Friday of the season at Suzuka. Especially during FP2, due to the many red flags shown by the marshals, it was difficult to gather meaningful information ahead of qualifying and the race. Because of this, teams will need to make the most of FP3 on Saturday morning before deciding on the setup they’ll use for the sessions that truly count.
To complicate things further, weather may play a significant role in team strategies. While qualifying is expected to take place in dry conditions, the chances of rain during the race are quite high.
At the same time, it should be noted that wet conditions could represent an opportunity for those teams that typically struggle under normal circumstances. Is Ferrari among them? It’s hard to say after the first two free practice sessions. What is certain is that McLaren seems to be ahead of everyone at the moment.
As for Ferrari, they finished FP1 in third and fourth positions, and FP2 in fourth and seventh. Certainly not a result that would please the fans if repeated in the race, but considering what was seen in Australia and China, it would be a useful step for Ferrari to start collecting some points.
Charles Leclerc’s words after free practice
At the end of the first two free practice sessions, Charles Leclerc gave an initial assessment of Ferrari’s Friday at Suzuka. “It was a constructive day. We tried different setups during the sessions and I think I’ve learned a bit more about this car,” said the Monegasque driver.
“The red flags and the traffic didn’t allow us to put everything together. I think our level is better than it may seem from the outside. We’ll definitely have to see how the performance changes with the weather conditions we’ll find in qualifying and the race,” Charles Leclerc concluded.
