Ferrari implemented a new floor and front wing design for the sprint weekend at the Red Bull Ring, as part of their plan to rapidly introduce many minor upgrades throughout this year.
This modification seemed to provide immediate assistance to Leclerc and Sainz, even after only a single free practice session on Friday, enabling them to qualify among the top three, right behind Red Bull’s lead qualifier, Max Verstappen.
Leclerc admitted, “We didn’t foresee being this competitive with Red Bull, so this is a significant improvement.” He was just 0.048s behind Verstappen.
“First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to the team back at the factory. Although it’s just qualifying, their effort over the past two to three weeks to deliver the package ahead of schedule was truly remarkable. This significantly contributed to our strong performance today.
“It’s refreshing to have a smooth qualifying round again and to return to the front row. I’ve been feeling increasingly confident over the past few races.
“I was able to achieve everything I aimed for in the final lap of Q3, closely trailing Max, but unfortunately, it wasn’t quite enough today.”
Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari
Photo by: Steven Tee / F1 Flow Images
Despite Ferrari’s impressive single-lap speed in 2023, the team has had difficulties maintaining consistent race pace and managing tyre wear on circuits with higher downforce.
As a result, it remains to be seen if Leclerc and Sainz can maintain their lead, or if they’ll encounter the same issues with race pace at a circuit that is tougher on tyres than the prior Canadian Grand Prix.
“In Montreal, our race pace seemed quite strong, but our focus needs to be on consistency,” conceded Leclerc.
“We’ll have to wait till Sunday to see if our pace matches that of Montreal, but for now, Red Bull seems faster on race days, so it’s going to be a challenge.
“But rest assured, if we get a chance to put them under pressure, we’ll seize it.”
Further reading:
Potential Red Bull restrictions “could have spelled disaster” with problematic 2023 F1 car
Leclerc and Ferrari have “gradually” initiated new F1 contract discussions
Ferrari introduces modified F1 front wing to Austrian Grand Prix
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Austria F1 Qualifying
What upgrades did Ferrari bring to the Red Bull Ring sprint weekend?
Ferrari brought a revised floor and front wing to the Red Bull Ring sprint weekend, as part of their strategy to rapidly introduce many smaller upgrades throughout the year.
How did Charles Leclerc perform in the Austria F1 qualifying?
Charles Leclerc performed impressively, qualifying in the top three right behind Red Bull’s lead qualifier, Max Verstappen. He was just 0.048s behind the Dutch racer.
Who did Charles Leclerc thank for the performance?
Charles Leclerc thanked the team back at the factory for their hard work over the past two to three weeks to deliver the upgrade package ahead of schedule.
What challenges does Ferrari face despite their successful qualification?
Despite Ferrari’s impressive single-lap speed in 2023, they have had difficulties maintaining consistent race pace and managing tyre wear on circuits with higher downforce.
How did Leclerc describe Ferrari’s race pace in Montreal?
Leclerc said their race pace in Montreal was quite strong, but the focus needs to be on consistency, especially since Red Bull seems faster on race days.
