Italian papers react to Ferrari’s Baku performance: “Strong flying lap, poor race pace”. Italian papers react Ferrari's Baku performance.

Ferrari did not materialize on the qualifying performance in Baku, finishing outside the podium despite the pole position scored by Charles Leclerc on Saturday. Although it must be remembered that the Azerbaijani circuit did not have the same peculiar characteristics as Monte Carlo, some mistakes led to Ferrari finishing further behind a potential second place (for the Monegasque) and a possible top 5 for Carlos Sainz. The review of the following day is a mixture of… resignation and optimism for a race that was not exceptional for the Maranello team but at the same time not completely negative since the direct rival McLaren remained behind.

“It ends with Mattia Binotto congratulating Sebastian Vettel. Regrets in the red box again, not as deep as those of Monte Carlo where the pole vanished due to a technical issue which canceled an almost certain victory. But it hurts to be off the podium. Overtaking McLaren for third place has been done, but the insane Azerbaijan Grand Prix downsizes the progress of Ferrari. Excellent on the flying lap, lacking in race pace: the choice to focus on unloaded wings to recover speed on the forehand was not idea for Sunday: “There are areas where we need to grow – explains Mattia Binotto -: we have not found the right tire use window. And then we lack power on the straights, but that’s something we can only solve next year. Pole and fourth place are starting points: the car improves, but we also need to be perfect and we weren’t.” – Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera wrote.

According to what was published by La Repubblica, among those who were disappointed, Ferrari got an honorable defeat: “Ferrari loses, but not as bad as others.” In La Stampa, however, there is greater optimism: “ In two weeks, F1 returns to a traditional circuit, Paul Ricard in France. Binotto puts his hands forward: “The track has fast curves, which are our black beast” But after all Baku was too.”

Leo Turrini instead writes in the Resto del Carlino: “Charles started from pole, the emotion that fate had stolen from him in Monte Carlo. But the mirage of running ahead quickly vanished. A positive aspect of the Azerbaijani trip for the Maranello team: thanks to the finishing positions of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, Ferrari overtook McLaren in the constructors’ standings, climbing to third place . And this is the goal that President John Elkann has assigned to the head of the racing department Mattia Binotto. About Binotto: at the end of the race, he went to congratulate Seb Vettel, who resoundingly returned to the podium with Aston Martin, the team chosen by the German to extend his career after the separation from Ferrari.”