Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix: Ferrari Faces Major Setback in Qualifying
Ferrari’s struggles continued during the qualifying sessions for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton qualifying 11th and 12th, respectively. This marked Ferrari’s worst qualifying performance at Imola since the circuit joined the Formula 1 calendar in 1980. For the first time in over four decades, both cars failed to advance past Q2.
Leclerc expressed his disappointment: "We are just P nowhere at the moment… There’s just not the potential that we hope for in this car." His team faced significant performance issues, particularly in the slower corners, where they lost considerable time against competitors, including a notable 12 km/h deficit at the Villeneuve right-hander.
Hamilton echoed the sentiment of disappointment, stating, "I feel super gutted… The car was generally feeling better. The brakes were better today… But when we put the new tires on, it just didn’t have any more grip." This inability to properly switch on the softest Pirelli tires, while other teams succeeded in doing so, raises concerns for Ferrari’s current setup.
In contrast, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso qualified fifth and Lance Stroll eighth, solidifying their momentum in the grid. Leclerc noted that while Aston Martin is achieving impressive lap times, "it wasn’t on the cards for us."
Ferrari is set to introduce an upgrade package for the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix, but Leclerc emphasized the need for significant improvements: “It has to be a freaking good upgrade if we want it to be a turning point.” Recent performance upgrades in previous seasons have often fallen short, underscoring the urgency for effective solutions.
As Ferrari grapples with performance limitations, Leclerc concluded, "I cannot perform miracles. This is what there is in the car." The upcoming race will be critical for the Scuderia as they seek to regain competitiveness on the track.
