If a good day starts in the morning, 2022 could truly reserve satisfactions for Scuderia Ferrari and its fans. Starting from the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi, the Maranello team led by Mattia Binotto has begun to bring on track the ‘weapons’ designed for the redemption season: first of all, an updated hybrid system which was run by Charles Leclerc in Russia. In Sochi the Monegasque’s race ended ingloriously due to an unfortunate gamble in the rain, but in the dry the potential of the SF-21 was encouraging, with Carlos Sainz still able to get on the podium – and lead the race in the first laps – despite an ‘old’ engine.
In Turkey, carlos Sainz also has the updated hybrid system and will have to use it today as he starts from the back of the grid. In qualifying, however, he was surgical along with the pit wall (this time under the orders of Laurent Mekies, with Mattia Binotto who remained in Maranello and in constant connection through the remote garage). Carlos Sainz in Q1 eliminated Daniel Ricciardo and in Q2 he offered a tow to Charles Leclerc helping him to compensate for the time lost due to traffic on the straight. “One of the most exciting things about yesterday’s Ferrari was the team play”, we read in the Italian daily newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport: “The trap, the assist, the tow. Ferrari’s Turkish GP qualifying seemed like a team building lesson, one for managers to follow. In a complex score, everyone played his part, obtaining the maximum ” – was the opening of the analysis present instead by Il Corriere della Sera.
On an old-fashioned Saturday in terms of effectiveness and ability to execute, Ferrari managed to place Charles Leclerc in third position on the starting grid of the Turkish Grand Prix, a ‘launch pad’ from which one can dream. “The car is starting to blossom” La Repubblica emphasizes and the Monegasque’s talent on the flying lap took care of the rest in Q3, defined as “an exceptional sprinter, able to add the missing tenths to the car with his driving”. The race could reserve several unknowns starting from the weather, with Charles Leclerc and Ferrari having chosen a low downforce set-up, aiming for a dry Sunday. A Sunday, finally, in which Ferrari and Charles Leclerc set no limits.
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