Charles Leclerc started the Sprint race in the Austrian GP from P10 after failing to set a time in the third qualifying session (SQ3).
Charles Leclerc (via IMAGO)
struggled once again during the Sprint race in Spielberg, finishing in seventh place. Leclerc started from P10 after experiencing power issues with the SF-24 during SQ3 on Friday.
Ferrari has shown some potential this season, scoring 270 points in the first ten races. However, the Maranello-based team has been unable to reach their high standards since the victory in Monaco, which has caused concerns within the team.
Therefore, Charles Leclerc emphasized the need to resolve the situation within the team to get back on track for the championship. Leclerc managed to overtake a few cars and finish three positions above his starting position, but he was extremely frustrated with the result of the Sprint race.
Charles: “The first lap was positive, but it got harder afterwards as I had to control the brake temperature. The real problem is the performance; we are struggling. Qualifying? I won’t lie, there is currently no miracle solution.” #F1 #AustrianGP 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/FDdvmMB4hD
Leclerc stated that he had a good start during the Sprint race but had to limit his performance later on to control the overheating of the brakes at the Red Bull Ring. This result now puts Ferrari in a desperate position to perform better in the main race on Sunday if they want to revive their championship hopes.
The Ferrari driver finished the Sprint race of the Austrian Grand Prix in a more positive manner compared to his teammate, Charles Leclerc. However, the Spanish driver was unable to improve his initial position during the Sprint and finished in fifth place.
Carlos Sainz: “We had a good start and managed to get past Piastri with the DRS, but then I had brake issues and had to back off the throttle, which allowed Piastri to regain the DRS and then George overtook me. We will make some adjustments to the car now to make improvements.”
Carlos Sainz pulled off an impressive maneuver at the start of the race, overtaking the Mercedes car. However, he couldn’t maintain his position due to inevitable brake problems with the SF-24. As a result, Sainz had to give up the advantage of having the DRS behind him, allowing George Russell to regain his position.
The 29-year-old driver faced similar brake issues to his teammate Leclerc, which greatly affected the pace of both Ferrari drivers’ race. Therefore, Sainz concluded that the team will make some changes to the car for qualifying, hoping to achieve a better result at the end of the ongoing race weekend.
