Bringing a brand new automobile to its debut at all times feels particular. For Charles Leclerc, it’s nothing new, as he has already had the prospect to take the primary laps in a brand new automobile throughout his years at Maranello, however this 12 months it feels barely totally different.
The need to win stays unchanged, identical to in earlier years, as does the Monegasque driver’s drive to combat for the specified outcomes. Nonetheless, this 12 months there may be nice enthusiasm across the Scuderia, not solely because of the arrival of a champion like Lewis Hamilton but additionally due to the work executed by the engineers, with an optimism that additionally reveals in Ferrari’s phrases.
Frederic Vasseur defined that to achieve the declared aim, the world title, a revolution of the SF-24 was not obligatory, however fairly a reasoned evolution, particularly contemplating the end result of the previous season, the place the Scuderia completed with a aggressive automobile and achieved some satisfactions.
It’s from that base that the engineers began, with a part of the ground being an evolution of the experimental one examined on the finish of the earlier 12 months. Ferrari needs to convey all the weather collectively to seize a title that eluded them in 2024.
Charles Leclerc is particularly dreaming of it, believing that this 12 months the entire Ferrari workforce has executed an unimaginable job to be prepared not just for the primary take a look at subsequent week in Sakhir but additionally to convey a aggressive automobile to the monitor.
“My want to turn into world champion has at all times been the identical. I like what I do, I like Ferrari, and I wish to win with Ferrari. Profitable the title in crimson could be one thing unimaginable. I’m doing every thing I can to attempt to make it occur as shortly as attainable, and I hope that is the appropriate 12 months,” stated the Monegasque to Sky Italia microphones after the primary filming day.
“We’ve labored very well, not simply me coaching however the entire workforce. They’ve labored to make sure we arrive on the first checks as ready as attainable. We’ve executed many days within the simulator, many laps, and it was constructive to arrange for this primary day and the checks.”
Clearly, the ultimate phrase will come solely from the monitor, with the stopwatch being the one actual instrument to seek out the solutions sought. Nonetheless, the premises are very constructive, particularly since this winter may be very totally different from the final one. If twelve months in the past Ferrari was coming off the dominance of Pink Bull and had fully modified its aerodynamic idea, this 12 months the SF-25 is an evolution of its predecessor, hoping to have made a step ahead in the important thing areas.
After a robust end to final season, with a grid that always proved very shut and open to surprises, the aim is to intention excessive. Because of this, Charles Leclerc didn’t cover that if, on the finish of the 12 months, neither of the 2 world titles was gained, the season might be a disappointment. The aim, nonetheless, is to make sure that this doesn’t occur and that the 12 months may be closed with a smile, writing a web page of Ferrari historical past.
“Final 12 months we completed second within the constructors’ and I used to be very disillusioned. So, the aim now could be to win. That’s at all times the appropriate aim for Ferrari, so if you’re in crimson, you must intention to win. I would definitely be disillusioned if we didn’t win each titles, however we’ll do every thing we are able to to win,” Charles Leclerc stated.
Charles Leclerc was additionally the driving force who opened the debut with the SF-25, bringing the brand new automobile to its first outing after getting back from the London presentation at 4:30 within the morning, solely to be again on monitor at Fiorano for the primary assembly with the engineers at 7:30.
Clearly, it’s too early to attract conclusions, because the filming day is extra of an preliminary contact with the automobile, though each drivers had the chance to push and begin to really feel the automobile.
The primary impressions, nonetheless, are constructive, and above all, the workforce didn’t encounter any damaging surprises within the first 200 kilometers of testing: “I might at all times wish to really feel extra, particularly on such an essential first day, with a lot enthusiasm, as a result of it’s the primary time we drive this automobile,” Charles Leclerc stated.
“As for the sensations, the constructive side is that there have been no damaging surprises, which is what we search for within the first laps. We didn’t encounter any sudden emotions or numbers, that wasn’t the case at this time, and that’s the excellent news. Going past may be very tough for now, however the feeling was good, and the environment was unimaginable.” – the Monegasque driver concluded.
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