Charles Leclerc says there’s nonetheless extra to return from Ferrari after setting the quickest time of Friday follow in Azerbaijan.
Leclerc’s day began within the worst potential trend, with the Monegasque hurling his Ferrari into the obstacles on the fast flip 15 lower than half an hour into FP1. Although harm was localized to his entrance wing and front-right nook, it ended his session on the spot with solely 11 laps beneath his belt.
Issues appeared to go from dangerous to worse when Leclerc reported a steering drawback early in FP2, however after one other spell in his storage for additional repairs he was ready add 20 laps to his day’s tally and pinch prime spot from Pink Bull’s Sergio Perez late within the hour.
Contemporary off victory in Monza two weeks in the past, he mentioned he by no means doubted Ferrari had the velocity to be aggressive this weekend regardless of his disrupted day.
“That wasn’t nice to begin the weekend, however I nonetheless had a number of confidence within the automobile, so there wasn’t a lot drawback,” he mentioned. “I braked a bit of bit an excessive amount of on the proper — the monitor was nonetheless soiled. I locked up and it was too late to go to the proper, so I went into the wall.
“Then the factor was after we began FP2 there was truly an precise drawback on the automobile. It was nothing to do with the crash. The mechanics had carried out a extremely good job, however we simply had an issue on one new half that we had simply placed on the automobile.
“I received’t go an excessive amount of into element, however that was clearly giving me a really unusual feeling with the steering wheel. We modified that, went once more, then it was tremendous. Not as many laps as I might have hoped for for this Friday, however aggressive anyway.”
Leclerc pipped Perez by simply 0.006s, whereas Lewis Hamilton slotted into third 0.066s off the tempo, portray a good image forward of qualifying on Saturday.
The tight and twisty Baku circuit appeals to Leclerc, though he admits the actual aggressive image is tough to gauge. Andrew Ferraro/Motorsport Pictures
The 26-year-old has a mighty historical past in Azerbaijan, having swept to the final three poles, albeit with just one podium to point out for his qualifying efforts. Although he admitted it was too early to make sure Ferrari may rise above the fray, Leclerc recommended he and the staff had extra efficiency to return in a single day that might stretch their benefit.
“It’s one of many tracks I fairly like, and we’ve been fairly fast previously, however that doesn’t imply it’ll be the case for tomorrow,” he mentioned. “It’s very tight, however it’s very troublesome to see [the true competitive form] with the completely different engine modes of everyone.
“We nonetheless need to work on the automobile. There’s lots to do to enhance. There’s the driving to be improved fairly a bit, as a result of I used to be nonetheless taking my references a bit of bit in FP2; however once more, we’re quick, in order that’s a very good signal. Hopefully extra to return tomorrow.”
Teammate Carlos Sainz was much less committal, saying solely that Ferrari might be within the combine if it executed cleanly across the treacherous circuit.
“We’re assured we’re on the tempo along with the Pink Bulls, the McLarens and the Mercs this weekend,” he mentioned. “I believe it’s going to be extraordinarily tight and it’s going to be about tire preparation and placing the lap collectively however on the proper time on the proper place on monitor earlier than the yellow flags and the purple flags.
“Hopefully we’re on the proper aspect of issues.”
