FERRARI

F1: Leclerc can't drive at the limit

On Saturday, the eve of the Formula 1 Dutch GP, it wasn't easy for anyone, in the third free practice it sometimes rained, sometimes the sun shone, and in the afternoon time trial the competition started on a wet track, but in the end it was almost dry conditions.

Ferrari, and especially Charles Leclerc, often looked lost on the asphalt at Zandvoort, failed to take the first corner countless times, and in Q3, instead of turning at turn 9, it slammed the car into the wall with “noble simplicity”. Finished with the 9th time, only Logan Sargeant, from Williams, who also had an accident, managed to pass him.

“It's a very difficult weekend. I really don't like it every time I get in the car I don't know what to expect. A weekend where the car becomes extremely difficult to drive. From the first practice I struggled on the first, 9th and 10th laps. We completely readjusted the car, but nothing helps in these corners”, explained the disappointed Monaco.

“In Turns 9 and 10, when I release the brakes, for some reason there is just no grip. I can only hope that I get stuck on the exit of the corner, but it didn't happen on that lap, so I ended up on the wall."

Basically, Leclerc doesn't really feel this year's car, but now, at Zandvoort, he doesn't particularly trust it.

“I've had similar conditions a few times this year, I'm getting used to the way of driving, but the car is just undriveable this weekend. In Formula 1 it's crucial to know what to expect, what the balance will be like in the corners, but at the moment I have no idea whether there will be massive oversteer or severe understeer, and that makes our job very, very difficult. It's a tough weekend, I hope our race is at least clean."

On Friday, Ferrari talked about the fact that the car will be significantly redesigned by 2024, and Leclerc is obviously very happy about that.

“I can't wait for it, of course we have to finish the '23 season before then. But we have no choice but to go in another direction, because the current car is very, very difficult to drive. You really can't take it to the limit. This weekend is particularly bad, we are even slower than the usual balance uncertainty. You never know what will happen if we go to the border. This also happened on my lap in Q3, so it's difficult."

Reporter: Baka Gábor