Ferrari experienced a rollercoaster of emotions during the Zandvoort Grand Prix qualifying session. While Lewis Hamilton expressed relief with his performance, Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc voiced frustration over a challenging weekend. Despite the mixed results, Team Principal Frederic Vasseur noted the team's significant progress.
Why it matters
Ferrari's qualifying showing at Zandvoort, marked by contrasting experiences for its drivers, highlights the ongoing struggle for consistency. A strong grid position is paramount on the tight Zandvoort circuit, making the team's ability to bounce back from a difficult Friday a crucial indicator of its resilience and development efforts.
Hamilton's Relief and Optimism
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton secured a P7 grid slot, just behind his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, a result he found encouraging. "I haven't been in Q3 for a while, so I'm grateful for that," Hamilton stated, revealing a change in his approach. He hinted at "optimizations" made before and during the event, which led to things running "much smoother" on his side of the garage. This brought a renewed sense of optimism for Hamilton, who has recently grappled with his performance. However, he acknowledged, "we are still not where we want to be."
Leclerc's Frustrations
In stark contrast, Charles Leclerc, who qualified P6, was less than thrilled. "It wasn't thrilling today, but definitely better than Friday," the Monegasque driver remarked. He described Friday as "the worst day" for the team, indicating they were "caught a little off guard" after the summer break by such a "tedious Friday." Leclerc explicitly cited an "inconsistent car" as a primary issue.
Vasseur's Perspective on Recovery
Team Principal Frederic Vasseur focused on the positive aspect of Ferrari's recovery from a tough start. "The positive thing is that we came back from quite far behind," Vasseur commented. He characterized Friday as "the most difficult Friday of the last two seasons" but praised the team's strong fightback. "After such a day, it's difficult to explore the limit – both in terms of setup and driving."
What's next
Looking ahead to the race, Vasseur expressed a realistic yet determined outlook. "It's positive that we have two cars that can fight against Russell and Verstappen," he said. While acknowledging that "McLaren is much faster than everyone else," he emphasized, "We need to focus on Verstappen and Russell and try to finish ahead of them."