The Italian media react to Ferrari's performance in Baku: "Red... Bullied"

On the streets of Baku Sergio Perez once again managed to beat Max Verstappen, but the Italian fans were struck by Charles Leclerc, who took the first podium for Ferrari this season. Let's see how the Italian media commented on the Azerbaijan GP.

The Sports Gazette

For Giusto Ferronato the Red Bulls are "too strong". "Red... Bullied. The new hard lesson from the world champion team to the competition: in Baku, it's a double with Sergio Perez beating Max Verstappen in the fourth race. Here, if you like at this point, the real reason for interest has become the possible disturbance that the Mexican may constitute for Verstappen."

He writes about Ferrari's Monegasque driver. "A weekend with pole in qualifying, pole in the Shootout and third place in the race is a positive haul, but it's not what Charles wants to race for and what Ferrari is competing for."

Sky Sports (Italian branch)

According to Mara Sangiorgio, it is a weekend that is good for Ferrari. "There's still a long way to go to get back to competing with the Austrian team, says Charles Leclerc, but the Monegasque at least takes with him the knowledge that he has had a weekend without any blemishes and also the certainty that this SF23 is progressing. To be back on pole twice in two days and above all on the podium after five months helps morale.

In Leo Turrini's report cards, we find a 10 for Perez, who has "a Verstappen weekend", followed by the 9 awarded to Charles Leclerc. Only 6 for team-mate Carlos Sainz, on whom Turrini comments: "The car just can't get him to like it. And it shows".

Corriere della Sera

Flavio Vanetti, introducing his report cards, poses a question: "The 2023 World Championship may not be the comfortable home of those who already rule. In short: can Sergio Perez really attack the Flying Dutchman for the title?" The Mexican even deserves 10 and praise: "Decisive, mean and relentless in taking command of operations on both Saturday and Sunday, he confirmed his aptitude for street circuits".

Leclerc also gets a 9. "After at least confusing days in the team, a response was also needed from those in the car: Leclerc did not miss the call and can look to the future with more serenity". Sainz gets 6/7, but Vanetti recalls: "He admitted that he couldn't understand the SF-23 as well as Leclerc: struggling from day one he will now have to bounce back strongly if he wants to maintain certain ambitions within the team".

La Repubblica

La Repubblica speaks of "Ferrari's awakening", adding that "With the Monegasque's first podium of the season and Sainz's fifth place, the Reds become the Red Bull's main antagonists". For Alessandra Retico, the next step in the Ferrari comeback will be the new parts that will be brought to Miami.

Autosprint

"Only good things from Baku for Ferrari and Leclerc," headlines Autosprint. "Once again the Red Bull RB19 proved to be the best single-seater, with Checo Perez absolutely unleashed and in a day of grace, on a track that he has always liked and is a friend of. But the real revelation was Leclerc, author of a perfect race without a single flaw, with such a stupendous sprint at the start that he remained in the lead until Perez returned, galvanised by the RB19's deadly DRS.

"Pole, podium, fifth place. All in all, the Azerbaijan GP was positive for Ferrari, which, after the first three GPs below expectations, launches a first sign of recovery. But no triumphant tone of rebirth: the Red Bulls are far away. Very. And even the Aston Martins, on the race pace, have shown moments of superiority over the Red Bull.