Ferrari to conduct ‘deep dive’ after Belgian Grand Prix practice
Lewis Hamilton has indicated that Ferrari plans to conduct a thorough analysis to determine the cause of significant speed loss in the middle sector at Spa-Francorchamps. Hamilton concluded the second practice session of the Belgian Grand Prix in fourth position, trailing session leader Kimi Antonelli by more than seven-tenths of a second.
A substantial portion of this lap time deficit occurred in the middle sector. While Antonelli completed this section in 46.722 seconds, Hamilton was six-tenths slower than the Mercedes driver in that specific area.
Hamilton expressed optimism that Ferrari would address their initial difficulties at the Belgian Grand Prix. He believes that despite some shortcomings during Free Practice, the team will implement the necessary adjustments to narrow the gap to their competitors overnight.
Addressing Performance Gaps
The team demonstrated strong performance early in the day, with Hamilton securing P2 in Free Practice 1, finishing 0.145 seconds behind Max Verstappen. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, placed P3 in the same session. However, Ferrari subsequently fell behind drivers from Mercedes, Red Bull, and McLaren in the later session, with Hamilton ultimately finishing fourth.
Leclerc faced greater challenges, failing to secure a spot within the top 10 after his fastest lap on soft tyres was removed. Despite these issues, Hamilton expressed satisfaction with the team’s overall performance, describing it as a “pretty good day in general” with positive steps forward and relatively clean sessions.
Hamilton noted that the gap appeared larger in FP2 than anticipated, but he hopes to close it. He acknowledged that the car felt “pretty decent” but identified a specific weakness in the middle sector that the team needs to investigate and improve.
The British driver admitted that Ferrari has considerable work to do overnight to compete effectively with their rivals in Saturday’s Qualifying session, particularly with over seven-tenths separating him from Antonelli in FP2.
Hamilton stated that other teams, including Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren, appeared very strong. He mentioned that Mercedes had significantly increased their pace during the sessions, and McLaren also looked competitive.
Focus on Downforce and Strategy
While one of Ferrari’s primary weaknesses this year has been straight-line performance, Hamilton clarified that this was not a concern on Friday. He indicated that the team was within the optimal window for straight-line speed.
Instead, the focus is on the middle sector, which appeared slower for Ferrari. Hamilton hopes the team can make progress overnight, having conducted simulations to optimise the car’s performance.
Leclerc experienced a more challenging day, not reaching the top 10 by the end of the second practice session. As Ferrari aims for an improvement before qualifying, Hamilton confirmed that the team will work to resolve its downforce issues without compromising straight-line performance.
Hamilton suggested that the problem might be related to downforce, although the car’s balance is generally good. He explained that while more load on the car would be beneficial, it must be balanced with the need for speed on the straights. The team plans a “deep dive” to improve performance in the middle sector without losing ground elsewhere.
Team Principal Fred Vasseur, whose team has secured victories in two of the last three Grands Prix, acknowledged that Friday’s results might not be indicative of qualifying performance. He emphasised that fuel levels significantly impact competitiveness, making direct comparisons with other teams difficult. Vasseur stated that Ferrari would concentrate on its own performance and aim to maximise its potential for Saturday afternoon, noting that Friday classifications have not been truly representative in recent rounds.
Vasseur concluded that the team has a lot of work ahead.
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Source: formula1.com
As News GB's Senior Football Correspondent, Lewis Hartnell reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on south-coast football for a regional title. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Solent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Lewis lives in Southampton, where he watches youth football and follows the transfer market. “The week's training ground decides the weekend's headlines.”
