A Ferrari “very difficult to drive” according to Leclerc

Condemned to do what they can with a car restive, Charles Leclerc et Ferrari have experimented with a “radically different approach” to the aerodynamic downforce of the SF1000 in free testing. 

The result may have seemed profitable in view of the timesheet with the 4th time of the Monegasque in EL2, 3 tenths of the reference established by the Racing Point of Lance stroll. 

But the 22-year-old explained on Friday evening that the feeling behind the wheel was not the most pleasant. 

« The pace on a flying lap is more promising than expected so that’s good news, commented Leclerc. We took a radically different approach to the level of downforce and it seemed to pay off in the qualifying simulations. 

Afterwards, this does not hold true during long stints. The balance is really precarious and the car is very difficult to drive. It's really difficult not to make a mistake. We have to find a solution because otherwise the Grand Prix risks being really long. You have to see what you can sacrifice on a lap to behave better in the race ». 

On the other side of the garage, Sebastian Vettel had a truncated start due to several mechanical alerts. First of all, it was a problem with the interchange that deprived the German of Free Practice 1. In the afternoon, a stubborn pedal set further limited the quadruple world champion's riding.

« The day was quite disrupted, confided Vettel on Friday evening. It was difficult to find a rhythm and it’s a circuit where you need it to set a competitive lap. But we were still able to learn a few things ». 

The German, however, had to settle for 18th time in EL2, more than 1”5 behind Stroll’s Racing Point.