Leclerc had a successful performance, securing third place, following Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in the Red Bulls, on a day when numerous drivers encountered tire problems.
The Italian team achieved their first podium finish since their driver came in second place in Austria, following challenging weekends in Britain and Hungary.
Leclerc proposed that there were indications of enhanced tire wear even in races where the team performed poorly, but he maintains a cautious approach towards the overall situation.
“I believe it may be premature to make a definitive statement, but over the past two or three races, we have been effectively handling our tires,” he expressed. “In regards to today’s race, I am certain that our significant lag behind the Red Bulls was not due to tire management, but rather their superior speed.”
“I was able to maintain my tires well and didn’t experience significant wear. Additionally, I had control over the speed of my tires while keeping an eye on Mercedes trailing behind.”
“It appeared promising in that aspect. However, we must remain vigilant as there are instances, particularly under certain conditions, where we occasionally deviate from the optimal tire performance range, specifically on the right side, resulting in significant difficulties.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W14
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Leclerc mentioned that the team’s approach at Spa involved reacting to Hamilton’s actions as he pursued them.
“We essentially had to respond to Lewis’ actions from behind, prompting Red Bull to react to us a lap later,” he explained. “Therefore, we all adopted the same strategy as everyone was responding to someone else’s strategy.”
Yeah, our plan revolved around Lewis and ensuring that he stayed behind throughout the entire race. He was maintaining a decent speed, but I believed we had him managed.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur implied that due to Ferrari’s natural speed at Spa, the drivers didn’t need to exceed their limits. This approach helped preserve the tires, which has been a consistent issue for Ferrari in recent times.
“I cannot reword”
“When lacking speed, one must adopt a strategic approach to compensate. Alternatively, excessive pushing can result in tire damage, which significantly influences the overall situation, similar to strategic decision-making.”
Having a strong strategy is simpler when you have the necessary speed compared to when you lack it. In the absence of speed, you have the freedom to do as you please, but you will be significantly distant from your goal, and the impact on tire degradation remains nearly unchanged.
“When you have a good speed, it becomes simpler to handle. However, when you lack speed, you need to exert more effort.”
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