technical and personal reasons – Corriere.it

Three clues make a test. Ferrari has found some of the answers it was looking for, but he has lost the real Leclerc on the second Sprint Saturday of the season. How does he fall in 24 hours from the 48 thousandths of a gap from the poleman Verstappen — yesterday Max also devoured the competition by humiliating Perez, giving him 21″ in 24 laps after a rough initial duel — to a sad twelfth place, a perennial chase breathlessness?

The fall cannot be explained by the sharp drop in temperatures (30 degrees less on the asphalt), by the technical limits of the car — Sainz took it to the top three, this year it had never achieved that, not even in a mini Gp -, with the repeating errors of the pit wall that contributed to demoting him from sixth to ninth due to not having warned him enough of Piastri’s arrival. a mystery that only Charles can solve, looking for the solution within himself. The fear of making a mistake has something to do with it, mistakes like the one in Miami that took away his confidence and frustration. So tell those close to him.

Last night two feelings coexisted inside the red box: satisfaction with Sainz’s good result, which was by no means obvious. In fact, the Spaniard kept his nerve: due to a problem with the brake by wirea part of the braking system, risked being eliminated immediately in qualifying shootouts. Only one round available, was a sniper. He also received compliments from his teammate: Carlos was very good, the proof that I had to do better. Displeasure for the Monegasque’s difficulties transpires on Fred Vasseur’s face. For the third time in a row, always on the wet, as if he suffered from rheumatism. But that’s not the case, in his career water has never been a problem. Now yes, however. Or rather the dry-wet mix.

In Barcelona he had been excluded in the first session, in Canada suffering and nervousness. Up to the Red Bull Ring yesterday, where the troubles emerged more clearly with a single-seater that was clearly improving. This time Charles doesn’t get angry with the strategies, he criticizes himself: It’s been happening to me for three races now, it’s no longer a surprise. In these conditions I struggle like crazy. When I ride on a wet track or with damp spots I get into a vicious circle and I can’t get out of it. I lose faith in the car and go slow.

If it were a structural question of the vehicle, not even Sainz would have been able to turn on the tyres, Leclerc perhaps will have to review something in his driving style: Analysis will be needed, I felt the rear move unpredictably, generally I don’t mind, but in these conditions I lose security. I have to figure out what I’m doing wrong, I’m disappointed in myself.

What better occasion to make up for it today, shooting from the front row, the weather doesn’t foresee showers. Better to turn the page immediately, in the dry I can do something good. Podium goal, to stop a Verstappen like this, last year’s Ferrari wouldn’t be enough. That of the last victory here in Austria.