Ferrari enters the Mexican Grand Prix following a robust displaying in america GP, the place Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton completed third and fourth respectively. Final yr, the Maranello-based group secured victories at each Austin and the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit, and the hope is that the SF-25 can replicate, at the very least partially, the spectacular efficiency of its predecessor, the SF-24.
Lewis Hamilton: “You by no means know the way robust the others will likely be”
After the Dash in Austin, the Mexico Metropolis weekend will once more characteristic a lowered variety of apply classes for Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion will, like eight different drivers, skip FP1 to permit a driver with fewer than three F1 races to participate. For Ferrari, take a look at and reserve driver Antonio Fuoco will get this chance.
The fourth-place end within the US GP boosted the Briton driver’s confidence as he appeared forward to the Mexican weekend, reflecting on final yr’s outcomes. He acknowledged: “I feel we’re nonetheless attempting to get extra from this automobile. Within the final race, we extracted loads from the machine. This automobile has a bit extra efficiency, and from one monitor to a different, issues are barely completely different – you by no means know the way robust the others will likely be. Ferrari was very robust right here final yr, so I hope we are able to apply what we discovered then and make it work this weekend.”
Nonetheless within the means of absolutely adapting to the Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton famous the challenges he expects on the Mexican circuit: “I anticipate the automobile will really feel very completely different from what I skilled right here final yr and in earlier years. Skipping FP1 means I must be taught shortly and adapt instantly to the monitor situations.”
Charles Leclerc: “We’re retaining our ft on the bottom for now”
In Texas, each Ferrari automobiles collected essential factors within the title battle towards Oscar Piastri, with Lando Norris having to combat arduous to go Leclerc and end second behind Max Verstappen. On the potential for performing as a spoiler within the championship duel between the Dutchman and the McLaren drivers, Charles Leclerc was cautious: “We’re retaining our ft on the bottom for now. We had a constructive weekend and executed it practically completely. That mentioned, Crimson Bull and McLaren have been nonetheless pretty robust, and at this level, we’re not ready to make life troublesome for both of them.”
Reflecting on the Austin weekend and the way Ferrari regained competitiveness after a troublesome Friday, Charles Leclerc defined: “It was all about setup changes and adjustments in how we handle the tires, that are notably delicate this yr. There are a lot of classes we discovered from that weekend, and I hope we are able to apply them right here.” – the Monegasque driver identified.
He additionally highlighted the strategic resolution to begin on Mushy tires: “I didn’t anticipate to be the one one among the many first 15 on the grid to decide on them. It was a little bit of a shock, and naturally, as soon as within the automobile, you could have some doubts, but it surely turned out to be the suitable selection, and I’m glad we tried one thing that others most likely didn’t anticipate.”
FP1 teamwork with Fuoco
Throughout Friday’s FP1, Leclerc will share the storage with Antonio Fuoco, his former teammate at Prema throughout their profitable 2017 F2 season and an in depth private good friend. Charles Leclerc mentioned: “I’m very comfortable for Antonio. We grew up collectively within the Ferrari Driver Academy, and there’s a particular bond between us. Sharing the F2 season and now the storage once more after a number of years is improbable. Although we’ve at all times had a robust connection through the years, having him within the different automobile will likely be an enormous assist for the group. Past the non-public satisfaction, he’s one among our simulator drivers, and it’s crucial for him to drive the automobile in actual life to match it with the digital mannequin. That will likely be invaluable assist.”
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