Ferrari’s Rollercoaster Dutch Weekend: Charles Leclerc Finds the Silver Lining

Ferrari faced a tough qualifying session at Zandvoort, raising doubts about their ability to finish any higher than sixth. The team’s performance varied significantly from Friday to Sunday, leaving Charles Leclerc puzzled and determined to figure out the reasons behind their inconsistency.

It was Qualifying that was particularly difficult. Carlos Sainz was eliminated in Q2, and Leclerc managed only sixth place, finishing 0.909 seconds behind pole-sitter Lando Norris. Reflecting on the outcome, Leclerc remarked, “It’s disappointing, because as much as we expected this result, we also did not expect to be nine-tenths off pole position. It’s a lot, especially on such a short track like this, it’s really a lot.”

Leclerc’s mood was sombre as he acknowledged the lack of “quick fixes” for Ferrari’s recent struggles in Formula 1. His lap time of 1:10.582, nearly a full second slower than Norris’s pole time of 1:09.673 was depressing. Ferrari’s form has declined after a promising start to the season. They have had just two podium finishes in the six races since their world-beating impressive performance in Monaco which had left fans ecstatic.

Something to Smile About At Last

However, race day at the Dutch Grand Prix did see a turnaround for Ferrari. Both drivers made strong starts, with Leclerc overtaking Sergio Perez on the outside to claim fifth place, and Sainz moving past Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso to secure seventh. Leclerc’s pit stop on lap 24 for a tire switch from Medium to Hard proved crucial, allowing him to execute an impressive undercut on George Russell and Oscar Piastri, propelling him from fifth to third. Despite pressure from Piastri, Leclerc held his ground to secure his seventh podium of the season.

Looking ahead to the next race in Monza, Charles is hopeful for a yet better performance at their home circuit. The Italian Grand Prix is expected to be more favourable for Ferrari, especially with planned upgrades.

Leclerc is optimistic, stating, “It’s not often that I would say I am happy with a P3, but today, I am extremely happy with the job the team has done on such a difficult weekend… Next up is Monza, our home race. We will give it our all to make our tifosi proud there.”

Team Principal Fred Vasseur echoed Leclerc’s sentiments:
“We were not very optimistic coming to Zandvoort, but today… Charles was able to keep (Oscar) Piastri behind him and deserved this podium …There are still nine races to go, some of them will suit us better than others, and we must see what we can do with the new package.”

So despite the challenges, Ferrari managed to gain eight positions on a track known for limited overtaking opportunities. Leclerc moved up from sixth to third, while Sainz climbed from tenth to fifth, earning Ferrari another 25 points. Both the team and Leclerc remain third in their respective championships, the Constructors and Drivers World Championship.

Verstappen and Norris

Meanwhile as for the leaders, Max Verstappen failed to dominate this his home event.

With Lando Norris on pole McLaren had a disastrous beginning to the race as Verstappen easily overtook before reaching the first corner, while George Russell of Mercedes got the jump on Oscar Piastri.

However, McLaren’s strong race pace soon came into play, and Norris swiftly regained the lead by smoothly passing Verstappen on lap 17, just ahead of the initial round of pit stops.

From there, Norris pulled away from the pack building a lead of more than 20 seconds by the race’s conclusion. This commanding victory underscores Norris’s growing potential as a contender for the drivers’ championship, even as he continues to cut into Verstappen’s still-formidable lead of 70 points in the standings.

Sunday’s Grand Prix marked the fifth race in a row where someone other than Verstappen took the victory. How fast things change. Now if only Charles can beat both Verstappen and Norris in the next Grand Prix in Monza.