In Brazil the new world champion wants to honor the memory of his idol Ayrton Senna. Ferrari still in chaos: Hamilton sixth and Leclerc seventh and the Englishman will have to serve a penalty while the team does not line up. Vasseur: “The priority for the drivers must be Ferrari”
“The work isn’t done yet,” he said Kimi Antonelli on the eve of Brazilian Grand Prix. And the fresh world champion also demonstrated in the Interlagos free practice that he is the fastest: best time with his Mercedes in front of Norris on the Mc Laren e Verstappen on Red Bull. Then his teammate Russell and Oscar Piastri with the second Mc Laren. Far away the Ferraris with Hamilton sixth ahead of Leclerc. For the entire session Kimi was the fastest, demonstrating the great feeling with his car and perhaps also due to the desire to win in Brazil where he has many fans, all of whom have been admired in recent days for the time that Antonelli has dedicated in memory of Ayrton Sennafirst going to meet the Brazilian champion’s family and then going to his grave. And then there’s that special helmet to honor with the image of Senna and the Brazilian flag. It is not difficult to imagine that on Sunday Brazilian fans will be rooting for the Italian world champion.
Tension at Ferrari
Tension remains high in the Maranello team afterwards the clash on the track in Mexico City between Leclerc and Hamilton and the very harsh words of the Englishman towards the Monegasque. Charles arrived in Sao Paulo only on Thursday, coming from Monte Carlo where he was next to his wife for the birth of their first daughter, he had a conversation with team principal Vasseur, but Ferrari at an official level continues not to side with either of the two drivers. “Nothing has changed from that point of view – explained Vasseur – but what must be clear to the drivers is that their priority is Ferrari, the brand, the team and all the people who work with them”. The results obtained in free practice do not help to restore calm, in Maranello they cannot be satisfied with the sixth and seventh places obtained. And as if that were not enough, penalties are on the way: Hamilton will serve them for the engine change in Brazil, on Sunday on the grid, and Leclerc will serve them in the next race weekend, in Las Vegas. The two could therefore not start close together until the Qatar round, the penultimate of the season.
