Ferrari is uncertain whether they will be able to maintain the same impressive speed they displayed last month at Imola when they compete at Spa-Francorchamps for the 6 Hours of Spa, according to Batti Pregliasco, team manager of Ferrari AF Corse. When asked if Ferrari can replicate their performance at Imola, Pregliasco responded, “It’s difficult to say.” He explained that Imola was well-prepared and they discovered their strength on the kerbs and chicane once they arrived at the circuit. However, they are unsure if they can achieve the same results at Spa due to the challenging nature of the circuit.
At Imola, Ferrari was widely regarded as having the strongest pace, with their cars qualifying 1-2-3 and leading for a significant portion of the first four hours. However, their strategy faltered when they failed to pit for wet tires as the rain started and did not divide their strategy among their three cars. As a result, they finished fourth, seventh, and eighth, which was not the outcome they had hoped for in front of their passionate fans.
This disappointing performance, combined with their lackluster results in the opening race of the season in Qatar, has put additional pressure on Ferrari. Pregliasco acknowledged that the team feels the weight of expectations because they are Ferrari. They are eager to achieve the results they believe they deserve with their talented drivers and high-performance cars. The pressure to perform well at Spa is mounting, and the team is determined to prove their capabilities.
A strong finish at Spa is crucial for Ferrari’s championship aspirations. Currently, they are positioned 5th, 6th, and 11th in the drivers’ championship and are third in the manufacturers’ standings, trailing their main rivals, Porsche, by a significant margin. Therefore, a successful outcome at Spa is necessary to accumulate valuable points and improve their standings.
In the first free practice session, Ferrari secured the top two spots, with a lead of 0.167 seconds over Daniil Kvyat’s Lamborghini in third place. The team will continue their preparations with the third and final free practice session on Friday morning, followed by qualifying in the afternoon, and the race on Sunday afternoon.