Forward of the Australian Grand Prix, the temper round Ferrari was slightly optimistic, regardless of the tough begin to their 2023 Components 1 season. Previous to qualifying, reserve driver Robert Shwartzman was a part of the protection on F1TV, and he described the sensation across the workforce as “excellent.”
That’s definitely not the case following the Grand Prix itself.
Charles Leclerc was knocked out of the race on the opening lap, after getting caught in a collision with Lance Stroll that despatched Leclerc’s SF-23 into the gravel and out of the race.
Then it seemed like Carlos Sainz Jr. was going to fall sufferer to a little bit of dangerous luck. With Sainz working inside the highest 5, Ferrari made the choice to convey him into the pits when a digital security automobile got here out following Alex Albon crashing into the barrier and out of the Grand Prix. The pondering was that Sainz may swap to the arduous compound and go the space with out one other cease.
Ferrari was not alone in making that call. Mercedes introduced in race chief George Russell, who made the identical swap to the hards.
Sadly, the timing went from good, to flawed, by no fault of both workforce. Race officers then introduced out the pink flag, citing gravel on the monitor, and each different workforce obtained to make the identical swap underneath pink flag circumstances. Russell was now in seventh, and the Ferrari driver was exterior the highest ten.
Each Sainz, and Russell, had given up good monitor place and obtained no benefit.
Nonetheless, whereas Russell would quickly retire after a failure, Sainz managed to cost his manner by the sphere. That included this unimaginable overtake of Pierre Gasly, with Sainz hitting the Alpine driver with an ideal dummy transfer:
When the race was stopped for one more pink flag with only a few laps remaining, the Ferrari driver was fourth, and in place to push for a podium.
Maybe he pushed a bit too arduous.
Sainz collided with Fernando Alonso simply after the restart, sending the Aston Martin driver into the gravel. That touched off a series response of occasions that might see Gasly and Esteban Ocon collide, knocking each Alpines out of the Grand Prix:
The pink flag got here out but once more and everybody from the groups, the followers in Melbourne, and bleary-eyed sports activities writers in the US, questioned how race officers would deal with the end. Would there be one other standing begin? Would the race end underneath a yellow flag?
Ultimately, race officers set the order for the restart, which might happen underneath a security automobile.
In addition they handed down a five-second penalty to Sainz, dropping him out of the factors.
As you would possibly count on, it was a bitter blow for the Ferrari driver:
Max Verstappen took the checkered flag, and Ferrari took dwelling nothing to indicate for his or her efforts. Worse nonetheless, the workforce now sit in fourth place within the Constructors’ standings, effectively behind Pink Bull, and 30 factors behind Mercedes, who sit in third place:
Nonetheless, the workforce did their greatest to place a optimistic spin on the weekend.
“It was unlucky to finish the race this manner at present, nevertheless it was a racing incident and I don’t suppose that we may have finished something in another way,” mentioned Leclerc after the Grand Prix. “Disappointing, however on to the subsequent one the place I hope issues will run extra easily once more.”
“I had a very good begin and felt assured on the medium tyre however we had been unfortunate, pitting simply earlier than they introduced out the primary pink flag and I dropped right down to P11. From there I managed to tug off a very good comeback with good overtakes and strong tempo, so for that I’m completely happy,” mentioned Sainz.
“It was a very good race total however the penalty ruined all the hassle and I don’t agree with it,” he added. “The frustration I really feel proper now shall be tough to digest, however I’ll attempt to suppose solely of the positives from at present and give attention to the subsequent race.”
New Workforce Principal Frédéric Vasseur, who took over from Mattia Binotto this previous winter, talked concerning the “progress” the workforce has made by three races.
“At this time’s outcome, not scoring factors, doesn’t replicate the progress we’ve made as a workforce. We now have taken a step ahead when it comes to pure efficiency and much more importantly, we had an honest and constant race tempo on the varied tyre compounds, together with the arduous. Solely yesterday’s qualifying didn’t match our potential.”
“Our preliminary response is one among frustration, with Charles clearly unfortunate to be concerned in a racing incident firstly. It was a very good name to convey Carlos in underneath the primary Security Automobile, however following the pink flag, he needed to begin once more from P11, from which he recovered very effectively,” added Vasseur. “The penalty had a devastating impact on the ultimate outcome for him however regardless of this, we return to Maranello figuring out that we’re shifting in the suitable route and we now have three weeks to maintain engaged on optimising and updating the SF-23 for the approaching races.”
Ferrari now has an prolonged break to work on the SF-23, earlier than making an attempt to proper the ship at Baku on the finish of the month.
