The Formula restarted from the Zandvoort circuit with the keen Englishman from Mercedes. Tomorrow there will be tests for the grand prix with the unknown bad weather and Ferrari is evaluating whether to use the new fund
The Sprint Race, the qualifications for the grand prix and the unknown bad weather. It will be a difficult Saturday for the Formula 1 drivers back on track in Zandvoort after the summer break. The Sprint Race tests on the Dutch circuit they put it back on the stage George Russell. The Englishman from Mercedes achieved the best time ahead of reigning world champion Lando Norris with Mc Laren and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. It wasn’t an easy Friday for the current world championship leader Kimi Antonelli. The Italian driver ended up wide and in the gravel in the last corner, but managed to return to the pits to change tires and exit in time to complete another flying lap, enough to access the second phase of qualifying. “I lost it in a really strange way” Antonelli immediately said, but the damage sustained by his Mercedes probably damaged the bottom of the car and compromised Antonelli’s day who only finished fifth fastest, more than two tenths behind his teammate.
Ferrari on and off
Leclerc’s third time is positive for the Ferraris, but Hamilton didn’t do as well (only seventh). In the only free practice session the SF-26 he showed excellent balance right from the startwith a strong front and a rear capable of following without getting upset, even in traction, despite a non-ideal track grip condition. The low temperatures seem to help the Italian single-seater, which also showed some differences between the two drivers precisely in terms of tire preparation: Hamilton he seemed to manage to get a better time than Leclerc above all thanks to a better preparation of the front at the beginning of the lap and the interpretation of turns 8, 9 and 10, while Leclerc appeared to be in difficulty already at turn 1, with a less than perfect front, but then showed a truly perfect rear from turn 12 onwards, throughout the push section that passes through the last banked corner up to the finish line. It is no coincidence, in fact, that the absolute best time in the third sector went to the Monegasque. For now, Ferrari’s weak point seems to be the flying lap and the ability to squeeze the full performance available from the soft tyre, although we are talking about very small distances from McLaren or Mercedes. and the ability to squeeze the full performance available from the soft tyre, although we are talking about very small distances from McLaren or Mercedes. On the contrary the pace simulations of both Hamilton and Leclerc were decidedly excellent. However, doubt remains about the choice to use the new fund, a solution that was not used to preserve the only specimens available.
