(Silverstone) A year on from their last success in motorsport’s premier class, Ferrari will try to narrow the huge gap between them and the untouchables Red Bull this weekend at Silverstone for the Grand Prix de Grande -Brittany, tenth round of the Formula 1 season.
The Scuderia, which recorded its second podium of the season in Austria last weekend, is still very far from the Austrian single-seaters but seems to be raising its head a little after a disastrous start to the season.
Charles Leclerc, third in Azerbaijan at the end of April, took his second podium of the year in Styria by finishing runner-up to Max Verstappen on the circuit where he had won the Italian team’s last success on July 10, 2022, illustrating the progress made in recent weeks.
“Since Barcelona (early June) we are going in the right direction. In Austria, the feeling in the car and the pace were good, which shows that we have made progress,” explained the Monegasque at a press conference.
“Red Bull is still way ahead but we are still looking to improve the car for this season, although we know next year will be better. Everything is connected. We have a very clear plan to improve and we have seen progress in the last three races so we will continue to work hard.”
Spaniard Carlos Sainz will seek to replicate his superb performance from last season as he had indeed won his first F1 success at Silverstone. But his task promises to be difficult in the face of the overwhelming domination of the Red Bulls.
“The last two races have clearly shown that we have made progress and our drivers have been able to be aggressive, thanks in particular to better tire management and a more solid pace in the race. However, we are not yet in a position to compete with the leaders of the championship”, admitted Frédéric Vasseur, the boss of the Scuderia.
Verstappen, the reigning double world champion, will still be a big favorite on Sunday where he will aim for a sixth consecutive victory, while his team will try to garner a tenth success in ten races this season.
Briton Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) will once again be the hero of the hundreds of thousands of fans who will flock to Silverstone. Nearly 480,000 spectators are indeed expected on the legendary English circuit this weekend.
“This Grand Prix is the best!” The audience carries you, you feel like you’re floating, it gives you so much positive energy,” said the seven-time world champion.
“We will have a new front wing, it is another step in the right direction. Step by step to close the gap (with Red Bull). It’s taking longer than you would like, but I have 100% confidence in the team,” added Hamilton, who still hasn’t extended his contract with Mercedes.
Alpine will also test a new front wing and will try to bounce back from a disappointing weekend in Austria. The tricolor team should also have a new floor before the summer break, in Hungary or Belgium.
“We have to improve, find more performance. We lack a bit of speed to be able to fight for the top 5 and I hope we can get closer this weekend with the novelty on the car”, hoped the Frenchman Pierre Gasly.
The weekend in England will also be marked by the start of the filming of a film on Formula 1 with Brad Pitt as headliner.
A fictitious garage, located between those of Red Bull and Mercedes, was set up on the pit straight, and a single-seater with the characteristics of an F2 was redesigned for the occasion to look like an F1. However, the 59-year-old American actor should not ride among the drivers during the weekend.
