Ferrari exploited the single lap performance well and even promoted a clever vacuum play to secure pole-position for Charles Leclerc. It's a first step to try to win the French GP. But rival Red Bull has in the race pace a powerful weapon to counterattack the Italians
Once again in Formula 1 2022, Ferrari and Red Bull are fighting a dispute over details, given the paths each has taken when it comes to car tuning. And Paul Ricard, stage of this Sunday's French GP, is a scenario that helps to translate well these options of the two frontrunners that race in a league of their own - at least so far. The case is that the French circuit works well with those with more downforce, but also helps those seeking final speed. For now, the Italians took the first round with the position of honor won by Charles Leclerc on Saturday (23).
Since Friday, Ferrari has displayed strong pace on a single lap. The F1-75, equipped with a new floor and a significantly better engine in Carlos Sainz's car, flew through the 5,842 m of the Le Castellet track, displaying impressive balance in the first and especially the third sectors. Moreover, the build-up to Leclerc's seventh pole came smartly, as Red Bull filled in some gaps between yesterday's practice sessions and today's qualifying.
The fact is that the Maranello engineers used Sainz well to secure the top spot for the Monegasque. In the decisive phase of grid definition, the Spaniard served the team and promoted the vacuum to his colleague, but what caught the eye was the tactic used: there in the second part of the Mistral where DRS is not allowed. This was a glorious advantage, because the speed difference was crucial: Charles was able to put 0s3 on Max. For this, Leclerc was grateful for the help given by his teammate. "It was a great lap. I suffered throughout the weekend to achieve a good lap and in the end I did it," he celebrated.
"I have to say I had a great help from Carlos [Sainz], it was a great team effort, without him we would be much closer [to Red Bull], so a big thank you to Carlos and hopefully he can be in the fight with us tomorrow," he added.
The championship runner-up is absolutely right. Verstappen led TL3 and posed a real threat during the race for the starting positions. But the Ferrari move worked and put Leclerc in a strong position for the start of the race. However, nothing is guaranteed. After all, the Monegasque is surrounded by the two Taurine cars and will have his work cut out to defend himself right from the start. Max and Sergio Pérez start from second and third position, respectively. Again, Ferrari seems to enjoy a bittersweet taste in its achievements.
There is yet another point that could end up being the tip of the scales: the choice made by the Italians, who opted for a more aerodynamically loaded setup, against a contrary setup by Red Bull, which continues to invest in straight-line speed. "Maybe we would have been 0s1 or so closer [without Sainz's vacuum], but Ferrari's lap pace was better than ours today. It's just that we have different concepts on this track: Ferrari is using more downforce, while we are more tailored for the race. Tomorrow is the real thing: we have two against one, which is an interesting dynamic," explained Red Bull boss Christian Horner.
And Verstappen confirmed the manager's view: "We are faster on the straights, so hopefully we can draw on that for tomorrow. It will be hot and they [Ferrari] were very fast."
The perception, even, is the same as Ferrari's own. "It will be difficult [to beat Red Bull's straight-line speed], but we know that the weekend doesn't end on Saturday. Overall, we know we're fast on Saturday, but [the pole-position] has an added flavor because we weren't fast in the morning," acknowledged Laurent Mekies, Ferrari's sporting director, who has a card up his sleeve.
"It has been a trend that we have a little more downforce, which generates more drag compared to them [Red Bull]. Every competitor looks at the characteristics of their car and puts it in the best performance window, and that was ours," he added.
There is, of course, a good reason for the Ferrari choice, and it will probably be the Reds' main weapon against the Energy team this Sunday: the tires. The heat and the nature of the Paul Ricard track will make great demands on Pirelli's tires. The wear will be decisive on a track that demands more from the front tires. Ferrari's choice has to do with that as well.
"The compensation [of this setup] is that you have an improvement of tire wear with more downforce, but we will be more exposed," Mekies admitted.
This is also Red Bull's belief, but with a caveat. The Austrians are betting on a greater vulnerability of their opponents. "The decisive factor will be to make the front tires survive. We did a good job last night in the simulator, and if we are close to Charles, overtaking will be possible," Horner said.
Therefore, the French GP is shaping up to be a set-up duel between Ferrari and Red Bull facing a strategic battle. Pirelli thinks it is possible to cover the 53 laps with only one stop, but this will depend on the ambient temperature and, mainly, on tire management. So far, the balance is evenly balanced between the leaders of F1 2022. It remains to be seen who made the right bet.
GRANDE PRÊMIO follows LIVE and INREAL TIME all the activities of the French GP weekend. On Sunday, the start is scheduled for 10:00 am (GMT-3).