Ferrari returns to second in Constructors’ Championship as SF-25 meets expectations in Mexico
Ferrari achieved one other podium in Mexico, coming back from the American races in second place within the Constructors’ Championship. Frederic Vasseur is smiling: his evaluation of the SF-25’s technical potential proved right. With a clear weekend, the Scuderia reasserted itself as the most effective of the remaining.
Podiums in Austin and Mexico
Ferrari heads again to Maranello with two podiums from the double American swing in Austin and Mexico City. The second-place end by Charles Leclerc, mixed with Lewis Hamilton’s eighth-place consequence, allowed the workforce to reclaim second within the Constructors’ standings, with a one-point lead over Mercedes. Fred Vasseur’s technical studying of the SF-25 was validated. Nothing miraculous—the thirty-second hole Leclerc made up on Norris is telling—however preparation and weekend administration allowed Ferrari to climb to the second step of the rostrum.
Lucky circumstances within the remaining laps
With simply two laps remaining, a stroke of luck got here within the type of a Digital Security Automotive, freezing the race for a lap and a half simply as Verstappen had Leclerc in his sights. “I used to be very glad to see the Digital Security Automotive come into play within the final two laps,” Leclerc admitted. “With out it, I feel Max would have had a greater probability than me of ending the race in second.”
Early race challenges
Leclerc additionally confronted different dangers. At the beginning, the 2 Ferrari automobiles touched approaching Flip 1. “I discovered myself between Lewis and Max, a type of conditions the place there’s little you are able to do. I simply hoped they’d go away me sufficient area to take the nook. I made gentle contact with Lewis, then went outdoors the place grip was poor and needed to minimize the nook.”
Leclerc slid previous Flip 3, returning the result in Norris. He was technically required to present the place again to Hamilton, however Lewis had been overtaken by Max Verstappen—who additionally gained from the Flip 1 minimize. When Hamilton returned to 3rd in Flip 5, Charles Leclerc now not felt obliged to present the place again, leaving Hamilton’s radio requests unanswered.
“I had an ideal begin,” Lewis defined after the race, visibly annoyed. “I bought via the primary three corners with out going off-track, however I used to be handed by somebody slicing, and no penalties have been issued.” His frustration peaked when he acquired a ten-second stop-go penalty for not giving the place again to Verstappen after a wheel-to-wheel in Flip 4. Hamilton returned to the observe forward of Max, however Verstappen had additionally been overtaken by Oliver Bearman, leaving Lewis no alternative however to proceed. Quickly after got here the tough information that successfully ruined his race.
“Ten seconds is an extreme penalty,” Fred Vasseur commented after the race. “I can’t recall the same case the place somebody acquired such a sanction. We noticed Max make a number of cuts… actually, I don’t assume every thing was dealt with very effectively. The ten seconds left Lewis remoted from the group, and overtaking on this observe may be very troublesome. This probably price us fourth place. If it had been 5 seconds, we might nonetheless have hoped to not lose positions… however ten…”
Leclerc’s constant efficiency
Charles Leclerc, in contrast, had a really clear race, and the consequence probably exceeded expectations. After the primary lap, his race grew to become a solitary procession, fastidiously managing tires whereas heading off Verstappen within the remaining stage. “It was a really optimistic weekend,” Charles Leclerc mentioned. “We didn’t anticipate to duplicate what we did in Austin as a result of we feared McLaren and Pink Bull’s efficiency. Being on the rostrum was a pleasant shock, and because of a superbly executed weekend we achieved two consecutive podiums, which feels nice.”
Fred Vasseur praises the workforce’s progress
“We took a step ahead over the past two weekends,” Fred Vasseur confirmed. “We managed to place every thing collectively. The purpose was to not go away factors on the desk like in Baku or Singapore, the place our potential wasn’t unhealthy however we struggled to attain factors. Now we’re in all probability on the alternative facet; we did a significantly better job.”
Workforce morale and Hamilton’s frustration
Charles Leclerc regained confidence, and the workforce relieved a lot of the strain. In distinction, Lewis Hamilton’s frustration is rising race after race, struggling to transform his improved post-summer potential into outcomes. For a seven-time world champion, it’s not straightforward to see his teammate attain podiums he has but to the touch this 12 months. “I actually don’t know what to anticipate, however I’ll maintain making an attempt. I’ll stand up tomorrow, practice, and put together. I can’t let individuals who aren’t essentially useful cease me from shifting ahead.”
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