Baku was just an illusion
The pole positions and podiums in Azerbaijan after just a week seemed like results from a parallel year, certainly not the one Ferrari is experiencing in 2023. In Miami, the SF-23 did not express its full potential in Qualifying due to the mistakes of Charles Leclerc, but in the race, the latest car designed by the Maranello team, despite being equipped with a new floor, showed a very poor pace at the Miami International Autodrome in Florida, USA, even behind Mercedes – defined by Toto Wolff himself as an inadequate car, without managing to be at the level of Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin.
Ferrari attempted to challenge Fernando Alonso with an undercut by Carlos Sainz, who received a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane. When the Aston Martin driver, after extending the first stint, fitted the hard compound, there was no way for Carlos to defend himself.
“The embarrassing duel with Haas”
“Poor Ferrari, all that remains is Imola” – Leo Turrini writes for the Italian newspaper based in Bologna, Il Resto del Carlino – “In Florida Charles had an exhausting and embarrassing duel with the Haas of Kevin Magnussen. Regardless of the result in Miami, by the end of the month, we will know whether Ferrari can aspire to some partial success in this melancholic 2023. But honestly, things don’t look good. In the upcoming Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the Red team will present technical innovations that represent the spring bet of the staff led by Fred Vasseur. A recent unhappy tradition does not give too much optimism: Ferrari has been struggling with developments for a long time, perhaps due to a methodological deficiency that goes back a long way. And Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc are perfectly aware of this: being Ferrari drivers is anything but exciting at the moment.” – Leo Turrini believes.
Charles Leclerc and the bruises on his soul
“A very tough Florida for Charles Leclerc, who finished 7th behind Lewis Hamilton’s Silver Arrow. He drove with neck pain and, above all, with bruises on his soul” – Alessandra Retico writes on the pages of La Repubblica. He arrived in America on the back of the Baku podium, perhaps with too much momentum: a crash in Friday’s free practice, a first mistake in qualifying, and the second fatal one. He lost a good start and finished 7th. ‘Unacceptable.’ Almost the entire rear end of the car was replaced: gearbox, floor, wing. He suffered a lot during the race. He fought for a long time with Kevin Magnussen, got stuck, and was passed by Hamilton.” – La Repubblica reports after the Miami Grand Prix.
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A very difficult day for the Maranello team
“For the Prancing Horse, it’s a hellish day” – writes Stefano Mancini on the pages of La Stampa, the Italian daily newspaper published in Turin – “The developments brought to Miami have no effect. Or if they do, it’s negative. Charles Leclerc spends his time on the track dueling with Magnussen. With the same engine, the Red team struggles against Haas, and that’s not a good sign. Leclerc also suffers a double overtake that brings to mind Ricardo Zonta, a mediocre Brazilian driver who was lapped simultaneously by Hakkinen, who took the lead, and Schumacher in a straight line at Spa in 2000. The two were competing for the title, which Schumi eventually won. The problem is that, in our story, Leclerc plays the part of Zonta. With Sainz, we must appreciate his attempt to resist Alonso. After opening the door for him last week in the Baku GP, it was the least he could do. This time the two-time world champion passes with bad manners, while Sainz’s race faded away. His Ferrari is indeed fast, but in the pit lane (5-second penalty) he is then overtaken by Russell. He had predicted a fun battle with Aston Martin and Mercedes before the race. It was fun, but for the rivals.” – La Stampa concluded.
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