Ferrari was unable to turn its good race pace into top positions in the qualifying session for the Formula 1 Dutch GP, with Lewis Hamilton finishing fifth and Charles Leclerc sixth. The Italian team is betting on race performance and a strategic advantage to try to make up ground on Sunday.
Read more F1: Mercedes has a day of contrasts, but aims to «maximize results» at the Dutch GP
Hamilton explained that some adjustments made after the Sprint race improved the car’s balance, but the difficulty in getting the tires to work properly remained an obstacle: “The car felt more comfortable, although it was still a tricky session,” said the Briton, who also highlighted the importance of regaining confidence with a new setup.
Leclerc also assessed that the qualifying session did not have the desired result, but highlighted the pace shown by Ferrari in the Sprint. The Monegasque started on soft tires, a choice that ended up working, and managed to gain a position on a track where overtaking is difficult: “We will need to maximize the start and see what we can do with our strategy to try to pass our competitors,” he said.
Read more F1: Audi believes in a chance to score points at the Dutch GP
The team principal, Fred Vasseur, pointed out a detail that could make a difference in the race, as Ferrari preserved a set of soft tires for Sunday. According to him, the team will be the only one among those starting at the front to have this option available, while strategy and pit stops should carry more weight during the race.
Vasseur acknowledged that fifth and sixth places were below expectations, after the performance shown earlier. Still, the manager sees reasons to believe in a recovery: “We expect to have a good race pace and we will prepare well, aiming to move up the pack tomorrow,” he added.
Read more F1: Aston Martin misses Q2 with both drivers in the Netherlands, but sees improvement
