Today, Ferrari faced difficulties as Leclerc, who has been prone to making mistakes, went off track and collided with the wall. This left Sainz, who will soon be out of a job, to achieve the best result for the team on Friday.
According to Ferrari’s report, the first Sprint Qualifying in China turned into a game of chance due to heavy rain during the final phase that determined the top ten positions on the grid at the Shanghai International Circuit. The track had particularly poor grip.
During the short 8-minute Q3 session, the Ferrari SF-24s were fueled to complete four laps. However, Charles spun off during his preparation lap and hit the barriers at turn 8. He had to pit to change tires and the front wing.
Sainz described his Shanghai Qualifying as a challenging and mixed session. They managed to get through SQ1 and SQ2 without major issues, but in SQ3, with the rain and the use of Intermediate tires, they struggled with the rear tires as they couldn’t reach the right temperature.
Sainz added that if the Sprint Race is also wet, it will be a difficult session for them. However, the current forecast suggests a higher chance of dry conditions. Regardless, they will try to gain positions and approach qualifying in the afternoon with positive momentum.
After Qualifying, Leclerc shared his thoughts, stating that he lost control of the car during the out lap at Turn 8 in SQ3, which compromised their session. He believes there wasn’t much they could have done differently that day. He also mentioned that their work on tire preparation in dry conditions seems to be paying off. They will give their all in the Sprint Race and then reset for qualifying the next day.
Ferrari F1 boss Fred Vasseur concluded the team report by acknowledging the extremely difficult conditions during SQ3. They struggled to bring the Intermediate tires up to temperature, which seemed to be a challenge for everyone. They will analyze the data to learn from this wet session, especially considering the tricky track surface. The forecast for the following day is better, and they anticipate dry conditions for the rest of the weekend. Vasseur expressed their hope for a less complicated first day on the track, considering the five-year hiatus from racing at this circuit and the introduction of the new generation of cars.
After an intense and demanding Qualifying session, the timing sheets revealed a harsh reality for everyone except pole winner Lando Norris, who was over a full second faster than the next best competitor. Sainz, the top-performing Ferrari driver, was a further second behind, indicating that their car is not well-suited for low grip conditions like those experienced today.
“The surface of the track is particularly challenging to comprehend,” stated Vasseur. “However, I believe we are proceeding in the correct manner and I am hopeful that the fact we have conserved a set of Medium tires will prove advantageous later on. Our initial objective is to strive for point-scoring positions and then shift our focus to Sunday, when the significant points are distributed,” he added.
Historical records reveal that Rubens Barrichello, a driver for Ferrari, emerged victorious in the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix in 2004, followed by triumphs for Michael Schumacher in 2005 and 2006. The most recent occasion a Red car claimed victory in Shanghai was in 2013, when Fernando Alonso achieved success.
Leclerc’s best outcome at this venue in the two times he has competed there was a fifth-place finish in 2019, prior to its absence from the calendar until now. Sainz’s highest result in five starts was a seventh-place finish in 2017, during his tenure with McLaren.
As we approach Round 5 of the 2024 FIA F1 World Championships in China this weekend, Ferrari, with a total of 120 points, occupies second place in the F1 Constructors’ World Championship, trailing Red Bull by a margin of 21 points.
In the F1 Drivers’ standings, Leclerc and Sainz currently hold third and fourth positions respectively, as they pursue the dominant Red Bull drivers. Notably, Carlos, in his final season with Red Bull, is the sole driver to have achieved victory this year other than Max Verstappen. Furthermore, he was absent from the second race of the season in Saudi Arabia.