Italian media disappointed with Ferrari in Portugal: “A worrying step back”. Italian media disappointed with Ferrari in Portugal.

Ferrari had a race at a “safe distance” from the cameras in Portimao. At the Portuguese Grand Prix the fight for the top positions preceded in importance the race in defense of the Prancing Horse, which did not know how to use the tires and even ended up out of the points with the number 55 of Carlos Sainz. The revived Fernando Alonso got more space on television, and in the duel with McLaren it was the orange car that took the most important points.

“A step back for Ferrari. Poor pace, a lack of incisiveness at any stage of the race. In the order of arrival, the picture of disappointment: sixth Leclerc, also kept at a distance by Lando Norris’ McLaren” – admitted Leo Turrini for the Resto del Carlino. For Mattia Binotto, the weekend problem is summed up in one word, namely ‘ ambition ‘. At least, for little consolation, Charles Leclerc took a few points home. Not without errors, in any case.

“The red Ferrari still lacks a pinch of panache, the Sunday race pace. And this time also lacked the touch of Charles Leclerc, a boy who makes the red car sparkle. This appears at the sunset of a tiring race, with the “gang” of four untouchable, Mercedes and Red Bull being out of reach, with the most efficient McLaren on all types of tires, with Norris once again more lively among the chronic losers of the World Championship. The gap to Charles is wide but here it is not a question of considering the absolute quality of Hamilton: it is up to Ferrari to race its direct rivals and a more consistent balance was expected in Portimao. But it was not the case: Carlos Sainz suffered with medium tires, eventually finishing outside the points, Charles Leclerc did not shine in qualifying with soft tires, he never managed to beat a jazz rhythm in the race with hard tires. Small gray areas on the talent of a boy who must and knows how to make a difference.” – wrote Giorgio Terruzzi in Corriere della Sera.

The Gazzetta dello Sport reads: “Nobody could have imagined how decisive the difference between the tires would be. Because the difficulty that Ferrari had yesterday with the mediums was not foreseeable. Carlos Sainz had graining on the front tires due to a much hotter asphalt than on Friday and Saturday. Which is worrying in view of the summer.”