16 LECLERC Charles (mco), Scuderia Ferrari SF-24, action during the 2024 Formula 1 AWS Canadian Grand Prix, 9th stage of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship, from June 07 to 09, 2024 at the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit in Montreal, Canada – Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI
After Charles Leclerc’s victory in Monaco two weeks ago and a third place for Carlos Sainz, Ferrari arrived in Montreal with high hopes of consecutive victories. However, their chances now seem slim after a disappointing qualifying session. Both cars failed to reach the top 10 in the battle for pole position, with Leclerc starting in 11th place and Sainz in 12th. This missed opportunity could be costly for Ferrari, as they are currently in a tight battle with Red Bull for the lead in the constructors’ championship. Closing the 24-point gap to their rivals now seems unlikely.
While championship leader Max Verstappen will start on the front row alongside George Russell of Mercedes, Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez could only manage 16th on the grid and did not advance to the second phase of qualifying. Leclerc expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance, stating that they need to analyze the qualifying session and the third free practice. He emphasized the importance of tire management in the race and his determination to gain positions. Leclerc also acknowledged the unpredictable weather conditions in Montreal and the potential opportunities they may present.
Ferrari has been struggling to find the right tires and grip on the recently resurfaced circuit. Sainz highlighted the challenges they faced with grip and tire performance during Saturday’s qualifying session. Despite narrowly missing out on advancing to Q3, Sainz remains optimistic and believes they can still secure valuable points. He reassured the team that they will give their best.
The weather in Montreal has been unpredictable, ranging from hail to bright sunshine, adding an extra challenge for the drivers in their preparations for qualifying and the race. Ferrari’s focus now is on optimizing their tire strategy and capitalizing on any opportunities that may arise during the race. Leclerc is particularly motivated to close the gap to Verstappen in the Formula 1 driver standings with a strong performance at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Ferrari’s Formula 1 team principal, Frederic Vasseur, expressed the team’s perspective on the matter: “Certainly, when you find yourself in 11th and 12th positions, you can’t be satisfied. We have faced some difficulties in getting the tires to work properly in turn one, as we are losing more than half of our advantage in that corner.
“It’s a tight competition. Ultimately, Perez is in 16th place. That’s how things are. However, we must take satisfaction in the fact that the battle is so intense. The whole team is quite frustrated with how today’s qualifying session unfolded. Since the third free practice, we have been facing some difficulties in various areas, even though we seemed to be doing well and had a good pace in both wet and dry conditions yesterday.”
Regarding the next race on Sunday, Vasseur commented: “We will have to wait and see what the weather brings, as it is the unknown factor. I remember that last year we also started from a distant position and managed to progress during the race.”
Ferrari has been victorious in the Canadian Grand Prix 12 times, most recently with Sebastian Vettel in 2018. The last time the renowned Italian team triumphed in Montreal was in 2004, when Michael Schumacher achieved success. Schumacher is currently tied with Lewis Hamilton, both having secured seven victories at this circuit. (Reported by Steve Keating; Additional reporting by Agnes Carlier)
© 2024
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