Laurent Mekies, racing director of Scuderia Ferrari, talked about the drivers of the Maranello team and how much they represent a perfect balance in the Italian side’s process of getting back on top.
One aspect that Mekies pinpoints is their feedback. This is a particularly strong point for Carlos Sainz, who has proven in his six Formula 1 seasons so far that he is an intensely analytical driver, something that was perfected through his experiences with Toro Rosso, Renault and McLaren before joining Ferrari last year.
Despite the fact that Charles Leclerc is a different type of driver, one whose skill behind the wheel means he is extraordinarily at adapting to the characteristics of the car, the Monegasque also has enormous sensibilities.
“On that side, we’re enjoying very high quality feedback from them,” Laurent Mekies explained – “It is one of our strengths, not only because they are good at describing what they feel, but because they have the will and the motivation to work with us to find different solutions. They use different words, so we can put things together. And they don’t always agree, which encourages us to look at things in a broader way. The way Charles and Carlos complement each other is the best.” – he added.
But it is not only in terms of technical feedback that the union of the duo works. They also have very different ways of extracting the rhythm from the car and contrasting styles.
Often, this would be considered a weak point given the risk of leading to diverging development strategies and development philosophies. But it also means that each of them has pushed the car to its limits in different ways, displaying features that might otherwise be hidden.
“Absolutely correct,” Laurent Mekies said when asked if having different driving styles also helps Ferrari. “The fact that they drive in a different way, they use the tires differently, they are at a different point in the ranking helps us enormously in our understanding”. – he added.
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Charles Leclerc has a more livewire driving style, capable of coexisting with a lively rear and showing enormous sensitivity for traction, especially in slower corner exits. This often proves invaluable towards the end of the qualifying laps, where his ability to maximize traction from overheated tires can save him a lot of time.
Carlos Sainz admitted last year that he was shocked by Charles Leclerc’s extreme driving style and spent much of the season trying to make gains in areas where his team-mate was leading.
This may have played a role in the series of incidents Carlos Sainz has had during the year, which is unusual for him. But the Spanish driver also excelled in the fast corners, as well as in moments when conditions were less predictable, for example in the windy conditions in qualifying in Portugal.
Carlos Sainz has also overtaken Charles Leclerc four times in the last six races, showing that he has made progress on single-lap pace even though he was marginally the slowest Ferrari driver over the course of the season together with him.
“I don’t know if they are friends or not, but what I can tell you is that the level of respect, the level of desire to work together, the level both as characters and in their technical skills, is enormous.” Ferrari Racing Director Laurent Mekies concluded.
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