Formula 1: Ferrari shows it can compete with Mercedes. Charles: “I don’t know how it would have ended if Kimi hadn’t had problems, but every now and then you need a bit of luck”
WIN at Silverstone it’s a medal on the chest of any rider, doing it after a period of crisis like the one he went through Charles Leclerc it’s even more beautiful. The Monegasque’s victory confirms that Ferrari can compete with Mercedes even if the silver arrows still seem a little faster. This time Lady Luck rewarded Leclerc And punished Kimi Antonelli, favored Russell and penalized Lewis Hamilton. But it was a beautiful grand prix full of twists and turns with Leclerc starting at the traffic lights flanked by Hamilton with Antonelli a little surprised, but then Kimi overtook Lewis and went after Leclerc. The teams chose different strategies: Leclerc changed tires on the twenty-fifth lap while Antonelli waited much longer and when he did so his times were significantly better than Leclerc’s. But the duel didn’t take place, Kimi’s Mercedes betrayed the Italian who ultimately finished in sixteenth place. Behind Hamilton seemed calmly headed for a Ferrari double with Verstappen chasing, but Max’s off-road reopened the game. Safety car and Ferrari immediately went into the pits to change tires while Russell remained on the track and found himself ahead of Hamilton. The race direction decided to leave the Safety Car until the finish line and so the classification did not change. A stroke of luck for Russell who, on the day of Antonelli’s withdrawal, moved to 25 points behind the world leader, Hamilton is 32 points behind, Leclerc is 71 points behind.
Charles’ happiness
“My victories each time have something, I don’t know, it’s never easy”. Leclerc smiles, gets excited, enjoys. “It’s incredible, unfortunately the end, with the safety, is not what I had dreamed of. But winning after the last weekends which had been particularly difficult is incredible. On Saturday I seemed to have found something, but I had to confirm it”. And above all, the Ferrari driver continues, “the feeling is back where it should be”. For Ferrari it is the second victory of the season. But above all it is a race that took a weight off Leclerc’s back: “After Monaco the feeling wasn’t there. In Barcelona I had an accident and it was difficult. In Austria I didn’t do very well. Instead here, at Silverstone, we put everything together. I hope to continue with momentum. I thank the whole team“. We also talk about Kimi and Mercedes, obviously. With Antonelli, says Charles, “he would have been at the limit, he was very fast, it would have been a real feat to keep first place. Then I heard he had a problem.” And again: “With a Kimi without his problem I don’t think I would have kept the victory. But sometimes you need a little luck. I’m happy for the team, for the fans, for those who suffered with me in the last races.” Has he found the path? Leclerc is honest: “It was a big surprise to be so competitive. On Thursday, when we said we would struggle, we weren’t hiding. The numbers said it. We have to look at them when they are at their worst, but also when they are at their best.”
