The Scuderia Ferrari HP duo of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc fought their manner up the order in an thrilling and action-packed race, making up eight and 5 locations respectively.
Lewis got here house in fourth place, with Charles sixth, bringing house 20 factors for the workforce. On a observe the place overtaking is way from simple, the SF-25 proved to have good race tempo on the each the Medium and Onerous compound tyres.
After a poor qualifying, the workforce took an aggressive method to the race, splitting the methods between the 2 drivers, with Charles ranging from eleventh on Medium tyres and Lewis from twelfth on Hards. Leclerc did nicely within the opening phases, passing Isack Hadjar and Pierre Gasly. He was ninth till lap 10 when the workforce pitted him for Onerous tyres and to place him out in clear air. The transfer paid off and he was in a position to undercut a number of vehicles, getting as much as eighth, thanks additionally to a powerful tempo. The Digital Security Automobile was required on lap 29 when Esteban Ocon parked along side the observe and at this level the workforce introduced Lewis in to modify from Onerous to Medium tyres, whereas Charles additionally pitted to tackle one other set of Hards to go to the top of the race. On the restart, Hamilton was seventh and Leclerc tenth. On recent rubber, the SF-25s handed each the Aston Martins, Kimi Antonelli and Hadjar, quickly transferring as much as fifth and sixth locations. On lap 46, Antonelli needed to park along side the observe ready from which it was tough to have the automotive eliminated and so the Security Automobile was introduced into play. The workforce subsequently known as Hamilton in to place him again out on Hards once more, because it solely value half the standard time. He rejoined seventh, whereas Charles stayed out in fourth place. On the restart, Lewis made good use of his new tyres to cross George Russell and set off in pursuit of Alex Albon, who was combating with Charles. On lap 60, the Thai driver managed to get alongside Leclerc on the first chicane, however Charles was vigorous in defence and the Williams minimize the primary chicane, which allowed Hamilton to slide previous. Lewis then obtained forward of his team-mate to take fourth place. For the final two laps, he then pursued third positioned Oscar Piastri who was on outdated tyres, however the Australian was in a position to grasp on. Charles was then requested by the workforce to provide again place to Albon after the transfer on the first chicane, which was beneath investigation, as any penalty may have value him a number of locations.
Tonight, the workforce returns to Maranello, but it surely will not be spending a lot time at Through Enzo Ferrari 27. Spherical 8 takes place subsequent Sunday in Monaco, Charles Leclerc’s house race.
Lewis Hamilton: As we speak I felt rather more at one with the automotive, one thing I might been chasing for the reason that Dash in China. Every thing got here collectively: the technique, the pit stops, the stability, all of it labored in concord and allowed us to get better strongly from our qualifying place.
There’s nonetheless work to do, particularly over one lap, but when we will preserve constructing on days like this, we’ll be within the combine for podiums. Grazie mille tifosi: your help means the world and I hope we made you proud at present.
Charles Leclerc: In some races, issues simply do not align and at present, that was the case for me. We have been actually unfortunate with the timing of the VCS and SC. I could not reap the benefits of the primary one, and in the course of the second, we did not have the suitable tyres accessible, however I’ve obtained no regrets on this rating. P6 just isn’t that unhealthy contemplating how tough a weekend it has been for us, however this isn’t the consequence we’re aiming for. Our actual focus needs to be on enhancing our qualifying efficiency, as a result of within the race, the automotive is quick. Heading to Monaco now, we anticipate it to be a difficult weekend. It is a circuit that can expose our automotive’s weaknesses. It is extremely particular and you need to run the automotive in another way than wherever else, so I hope we are going to capitalise on that and produce house one of the best consequence attainable.
Fred Vasseur: The optimistic facet of at present was that our tempo was sturdy from begin to end. We had technique and the pit stops have been nicely executed. After all, there’s some frustration as a result of if we had certified higher, we may have completed greater up the order. It has been three or 4 races now the place now we have seen this distinction between quali and race tempo. We should work on that, however I consider that at present’s consequence was one of the best we may hope for. Lewis drove a really stable race, all the time working at a powerful tempo, pulling off some good overtakes. As for Charles, the Digital and actual Security Automobiles did him no favours and I can perceive his frustration. However on the time the Security Automobile got here out, there have been nonetheless too many laps to go to suit the Softs and I feel leaving him out on the Hards was the suitable choice. Within the closing phases, we requested Charles to provide again place to Alex Albon, as a result of it was very shut and if he had been given a penalty, we might have misplaced 4 or 5 locations.
