From our special correspondent on the Paul-Ricard circuit, at Le Castellet,
A little mockery in the press room of the Paul-Ricard circuit, at Le Castellet, which reflects Ferrari’s mistakes in this first half of the Formula 1 season. “My tires died after only one lap, I don’t understand why? “Questioned Charles Leclerc in the middle of the third practice session of the Grand Prix de France, Saturday noon. “Understood”, replied his engineer, quickly mocked by an Italian journalist, who imagined the rest of his answer: “We don’t understand why either. »
In any case, this is the feeling that predominates among many observers of Formula 1: although at the forefront, Ferrari too often seems to be sailing on sight. “Strategic errors have penalized them a lot”, even estimates for 20 minutesthe former Ferrari driver, Jean Alesi, between two selfies.
“Moments of hesitation”
But for him, these errors are part of “learning from the outposts”. “You have to visit an F1 team to realize the level of technology and research. Ferrari, they have been fighting for several years to get back in front, suddenly they are in front. Now their main objective is no longer the car, but to restructure. They have a fairly young team, without a star. They don’t have Adrian Neweys [directeur technique de RedBull]. Everyone is unknown, but has a toy that wins, so they have moments of hesitation,” says Jean Alesi, who knows the team very well.
Moments of hesitation like at Silverstone, when they did not bring Charles Leclerc into the pits, despite being in the lead, just after a safety car. A non-decision which cost the victory to the Monegasque, finally 4th, eight seconds behind his teammate Carlos Sainz, winner of his first Grand Prix and relaunched in the race for the world championship, to the detriment of Charles Leclerc.
“Reliability will also play a role”
A week later, it wasn’t strategy, but reliability that gave Scuderia Ferrari F1 boss Mattia Binotto a few extra curls. When everything seemed to be lined up to achieve a first Ferrari double since the inaugural Grand Prix of the season, in Bahrain, Carlos Sainz’s engine literally exploded when catching Max Verstappen. This explosion still has consequences a week later, since the Spaniard will start Sunday from the back of the grid for this French Grand Prix for having used a fourth engine, when only three are authorized for the whole season.
“Of course, reliability will also play a role. Will what breaks now keep breaking or not? This is the question that everyone is asking,” recalls Jean Alesi. If Ferrari has, it seems, identified the origin of the problem, it is not yet resolved. This Grand Prix of France, and that of Hungary next weekend and their very high temperatures, will put the Ferrari engine to the test again.
Teamwork
But this misfortune, the 20 places of penalty of Carlos Sainz, at least made it possible to see the Scuderia Ferrari finally working as a team. The Spaniard, who played nothing in qualifying, offered two rounds of suction to Charles Leclerc to shelter him from the RedBulls of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. “I’ve struggled to find the right set-up and the right riding style since the start of the weekend. But I had the help of Carlos, it was a great teamwork that allowed me to do a great lap. It was really great to have this help,” rejoiced Charles Leclerc.
What somewhat extinguish the rumors of a bad agreement between the two pilots. “They did a very good job as a team. That’s how the team is, it’s not easy for everyone to see what’s going on behind the door of our team, but we’re united. They put themselves at the service of the whole, and it is important for the championship, ”recalled to the microphone of Canal +, Laurent Mekies, sporting director of Scuderia Ferrari.
“RedBull is the panzer division”
Because it will undoubtedly take everyone driving in the same direction at Ferrari to hope to beat Max Verstappen and RedBull, 38 points ahead of Charles Leclerc in the championship. “Them, the others [RedBull] it’s the Swiss clock, it’s moving forward. It’s the Panzerdivision, they’re well-honed, Max is Max, you really need a no-fault from Ferrari, but they can do it, ”said Jean Alesi.
A problem of the rich, finally, since these debates on strategy, reliability, or agreement within the team would not exist without the work of pre-season and a car finally performing unlike previous seasons. “They didn’t miss the car, it was still an unknown. Everyone worked headlong, without knowing the final rendering. We saw cars with really different shapes, and Ferrari didn’t miss his,” recalls Jean Alesi. But now, you can’t miss the rest.