“This is why we renewed his contract for 5 years.” – The words of Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto do not come by chance. Responding to a pseudo-controversy during the usual interview after the race, the team principal of the historic Italian team pinpoints why Ferrari decided to put its faith in Charles. While the Monegasque driver, a Ferrari fan to the core, reminds us of it on the track whenever he can.
In Spain Charles unleashes yet another top driver test. The boy is a solid point from which the team has to be rebuilt and the ephorated Ferrari knows this well, despite the fact that Mattia Binotto often said that both drivers are equals: the Ferrari boss has decided to hand over the captain’s ranks to Charles Leclerc “under the table”
On top of his game since Friday, the young Ferrari driver immediately found an excellent feeling with the SF21 car, demonstrating a remarkable step in FP2 during the high fuel simulations. In qualifying, then, he managed to maximize the result, despite a slight indecision in turn 10 which, in fact, did not compromise his performance. A second row, the third this season, which sends a clear message: talent is not water …
Turn off the pit limiter and go to the formation mode. Then, with the engine running, here is the turbo engagement preceding the bitepoint. Charles, like his partner, is informed about the choice of tires made by competitors: “Everyone is on Soft, except Kimi who starts on Medium ” says Marcos. Having successfully completed the usual procedures that anticipate the formation lap, the Ferrari driver informs the pit wall about the choice of the flap angle after the first stop: “ M1inus one ”. There are 4 burnouts accompanying the Monegasque on the fourth square of the grid. A fix to the gloves, K1 on and off we go.
Better than Bottas, the clutch release does not allow to overtake the Finn who, thanks to the power of the German engine, recovers the gap accumulated at the start in a few meters . Leclerc takes Verstappen’s wake and is joined in turn 1 by Norris, keeping his foot down. The choice to go on a more external trajectory in curve 3 rewards the acceleration of the SF21, able to overtake Valtteri on the outside. Chapeau… a great maneuver. Everyone, including Charles , didn’t have too much faith in the fight with Mercedes, convinced that the number 77 would not be long in returning the “favor”. Yet, despite the use of the mobile wing, the Black Arrow does not pass.
The good traction performance of the SF21 creates a decent margin out of corner 1. Enough to keep Brackley’s car behind , with the help of the usual K1 + Soc 8 configuration , useful for maximizing the use of the hybrid. Meanwhile, the first communication from the Monegasque race arrives. The radio signal is weak. For this, Xavi is asked to raise the tone of his voice, speaking exclusively on the main straight.
On lap nine, a double yellow flag is displayed, which turns into a Safety Car a few seconds later. Marcos warns Leclerc and urges him to continue on the track without considering a possible stop. On the other hand, this time in a decisive tone, the Spanish engineer is asked to raise the volume of his voice. Xavi ” obeys” and lets it be known that, except Giovinazzi, no driver has taken the pit lane. Subsequently, after a short break, he congratulates him on the good work done on the tires. Only two rounds are necessary to recover the car of Tsunoda, who left the Japanese driver in turn 10 due to a problem related to the PU . The red Mercedes turns off the lights and Bernd Mayländer gives way to the drivers at the end of lap 10.
K2 on, number 16 is not surprised by the tear. The Ferrari driver remains very close to Lewis and makes great use of the slipstream on the straight. In doing so, the ambitions for war launched by Bottas are sent back to the sender. Although Leclerc’s pace is far from that of the first two, it is still sufficient to keep the former Williams driver behind. After suggesting the use of the left toggle in curve 5 to change the value of the differential, the first communication regarding the strategy arrives. Xavi announces the intention of the Italian pit wall, convinced that Plan B may be a good option.
The Principality driver thinks about it for a few seconds and, while Marcos authorizes a more advanced hybrid mapping, Charles asks that Plan C be kept in mind as well . Four corners later still radio, still Xavi . The Spaniard requires less aggressive driving in the central sector, to try to preserve the compounds in the high-speed corner (T9) that leads to the second Drs zone . Leclerc’s concentration to keep Bottas behind is maximum. This is realized when the Ferrari driver made it known not to be interested in the time lap of Ricciardo, Which at this point is ten seconds away from the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas.
In this phase, the radio communications intensify and the compounds of the SF21 end up under the magnifying glass. After a modification to the Multifunction relating to compounds , the first tire phase update of the race arrives , to access all the values concerning the tires. While a few kilometers later, noting the good competitiveness of the Italian car, the wall choose to go to the strategy set out previously by the Monegasque: Plan C.
A handful of kilometers and we return to talk about Ricciardo . The indications given on the Australian just do not go down to the Ferrari driver. The former Alfa Romeo wonders about such insistent info and asks again that he no longer be given the references on Daniel’s pace . At lap 27, Charles is informed that the stop for the tire change will come within the next 4 laps.
Unlike Ricciardo, Charles Leclerc considers Perez a direct opponent. For this reason, he wants information on the Mexican who, on the next round, makes his first stop. Shortly thereafter, the Monegasque leaves feedback on the tires: the condition of the front left, although not bad, is still critical. Marcos does not even let him finish and, through an encrypted communication, calls the pit stop.
It takes about 2.3 seconds for Ferrari mechanics to assemble a train of new Mediums. On lap 29, Charles Leclerc returns to the track in fourth position. Bottas had previously pitted and, thanks to a much better pace, easily takes back his position from number 16. Marcos opens up on the radio to emphasize the importance of compound administration. The idea, barring any unforeseen circumstances, is to go all the way with the yellow-banded Pirellis without making any other stops. After a couple of comments regarding lap timesof direct opponents, the Ferrari driver makes it known that he is entering race management. The first part of the second stint does not offer particular emotions. In subsequent laps, the fastest citizen of Monaco makes several changes on the secondary throttles to administer the PU , in addition to the usual suggestions related to brake balance and differential.
In free air, Charles laps faster than Ricciardo who accumulates a gap of about 15 seconds on the SF21 . While Perez , despite having a Red Bull at his disposal, is currently not passing the McLaren Australian. When he does, his pace isn’t good enough to catch up with Ferrari. In fact, in the space of about ten laps, Checo only gnaws a couple of seconds on the Italian car, with the gap between the two remaining well over 13 seconds. Xavi opens the radio and congratulates him on the excellent work done. In the meantime, having made a second stop, Bottas ended up behind the Ferrari driver again. This time, however, Charles can do nothing against the frenzied pace of the Finn. In this regard, Marcos orders not to waste time with the German car, letting it pass once it reaches the Ferrari exhausts.
Aware of the situation, Charles Leclerc does not put up a fight and, on lap 57, opens the door to Mercedes number 77 that passes outside of turn 1. The concentration of Charles continues to be very high, so much so that he to ask to “be left lose ”on the radio from now on. The last emotion, if we can define it that way, comes on lap 59. Perez’s second stop offers what can be defined as a free pit stop. Xavi informs the Monegasque of the situation. The Spaniard clarifies the reason for this call, underlining that no risk will be taken.
A little bit longer than the previous one, the operation through which the mechanics in red mount a train of Soft scrubs , is still successful. Back on track with an 11-second gap over Perez, the Red is able to keep the Mexican’s Red Bull at bay . Nothing will happen in the remaining six laps. A few kilometers before crossing the finish line, Charles Leclerc asks about the fastest lap and soon realizes how the 18.1 marked by Verstappen is not at all within the reach of his SF21.
Defined by Charles Leclerc himself as a bit boring, the young driver’s Spanish Grand Prix was really great. Keeping a Mercedes behind for the entire first stint and arriving in front of a Red Bull, in fact, is not something easy to achieve. Compared to last season, there is an even higher maturity in his drive, which allows the Monegasque to easily manage the car in all stages of the race.
On the return lap, no one excluded, all the commissioners are greeted by Charles …
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