Ferrari close to Red Bull after updates? Gualtieri remains cautious!

F1 News

Enrico Gualtieri remains cautious after first day at Imola
18 May at 11:46
  • Estéban den Toom

Ferrari, like Red Bull, Mercedes and Aston Martin, brought quite a few updates to Imola. Where Max Verstappen had quite a few difficulties in the first two practice sessions, Charles Leclerc topped the timesheet no less than twice. When Enrico Gualtieri, technical chief of the Italian Scuderia, is asked if the updates are working, the Italian is still conservative.

Gualtieri is satisfied, but does not want to get too excited just yet. "Yes, I think that it's too early, honestly. It's the usual standard weekend, so everyone could be on different plan. We are focused on our plan. So now it's time to analyse and to see all the results that we can get right now and for the next session.."

Leclerc at least positive

Leclerc said ahead of the weekend at Imola that Ferrari should take advantage of any misstep by Verstappen. In Miami, Verstappen did not win, but McLaren' s Lando Norris did. Partly due to some luck from the safety car for the Englishman, Verstappen did not win for the second time this season. In Australia, the reigning world champion already crashed out with problems with his rear brake.

After the first day of racing at Imola, Leclerc already predicted that Saturday would be a very different day. No less than seven updates the constructor took to the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. On Saturday, the third free practice and qualifying for the race are scheduled. Whether the updates actually work well, we will find out after the qualifying day.