Technical Challenges for Ferrari’s Leclerc at British GP
Charles Leclerc faced significant challenges during the qualifying session for the British Grand Prix, ultimately securing a sixth-place start. Post-session, he identified an issue affecting his Ferrari SF-25 in high-speed corners, now understood to be linked to the power steering system.
Leclerc expressed frustration on team radio during qualifying, attributing his poor performance not only to personal error but also to the car’s behavior. "The issues we have are very specific. It’s not a balance issue, it’s not a grip issue," he stated. “I don’t want to go into detail, but it’s just something very weird that we’ve got to fight into the car, especially in high speed.”
Team Principal Fred Vasseur corroborated Leclerc’s comments, emphasizing adherence to team protocols regarding information disclosure. "He said also that he won’t disclose it … it can be fixed, but it’s true that we are struggling with something," Vasseur noted.
Sources indicate that the problems stem from the power steering system, critical during high-speed cornering where lateral G-forces exert strain. Effective power steering is vital for driver confidence, particularly when extracting maximum performance from the car. Leclerc noted the issue primarily affects qualifying pace rather than race performance, giving Ferrari insight into where they might bolster performance in future races.
Historical context reveals that concerns regarding power steering feel and performance have plagued multiple drivers over the years, including former Ferrari drivers Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso, both of whom struggled with similar issues.
Looking ahead, Leclerc confirmed that the team is preparing updates aimed at resolving these technical limitations. "We’ve got some upgrades coming which will cure some particular issues, which I think will help us in some places," he added.
As Ferrari continues to develop the SF-25, the resolution of this power steering anomaly will be pivotal in optimizing performance during critical qualifying sessions and high-speed race conditions.
