Ferrari Shocks in Montreal: Leclerc's Bold Confidence, Wet Track Mastery, and the Fight for the Top
Charles Leclerc's invigorated demeanor was evident following Friday's dual practice sessions for the Canadian Grand Prix. The Scuderia Ferrari team showcased a remarkable level of performance across various atmospheric conditions during FP1 and FP2. The sessions at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve swapped from wet to dry and back again, requiring drivers to adeptly maneuver between slick and wet-intermediate tires.
The Weather's Wild Ride
FP1 unfolded with wet conditions that eventually dried out, while FP2 saw the inverse with rainfall affecting the latter part of the session. Despite the changing conditions, Ferrari drivers were consistently near the top of the leaderboard. Carlos Sainz and Leclerc managed to finish second and third in the opening hour, with Leclerc maintaining a top-four position throughout the day.
Leclerc expressed his satisfaction with the car's competitive edge in all conditions. “It’s tricky when every lap feels different due to the changing weather,” he noted. “But we were very competitive throughout, even without topping the timesheets—largely because we didn’t set our times in the dryest part of the session. But that consistency bodes well for us.”
Strategic Setup Adjustments
Although confident, Leclerc mentioned room for improvement. “There's still a lot to refine for tomorrow,” he said optimistically. “We need to make certain adjustments which, hopefully, will position us even better.”
Approaching the unpredictable Saturday weather, Leclerc remained calm: “More rain might come, and if FP3 and qualifying are dry, we’ll have FP3 to set up the car. If FP3 is wet and qualifying is dry, everyone would be going into qualifying with a lot of unknowns. But we’ve usually been good with a solid starting setup, so I’m optimistic.”
Learning and Adapting
Carlos Sainz, who ended FP2 in 13th place, focused on learning every nuance of the tire performance amidst the mixed conditions. “It was more about understanding the rain intensity, the track’s drying patterns, and getting the timing right for changing tires,” Sainz explained. “This will be useful knowledge since the weekend could unfold similarly to today.”
Despite not chasing lap times, Sainz emphasized the importance of feeling the car in different conditions: “Our target for Saturday and Sunday is to seize any opportunity amidst mixed conditions. Hopefully, our learning today will pay off, avoiding past issues like those at the Chinese Sprint.”
Ferrari's Championship Goals
Ferrari aims to close the 24-point gap behind Red Bull in the Constructors' Championship. Meanwhile, Leclerc eyes a significant challenge to Max Verstappen's 31-point lead in the Drivers' standings. Their performances this weekend could play a pivotal role as they look to capitalize on their strong Montreal showing.
As the famous saying goes, weather is an unpredictable antagonist in the world of motorsport; how Leclerc, Sainz, and the entire Ferrari team handle it this weekend could define their season's trajectory.