Both Ferrari drivers have highlighted the importance of maximising their result at this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix.
Having struggled to put up a real fight to Mercedes since Baku, the straights of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve will provide the Italian team with a good chance to use their much-touted power advantage.
Indeed, for some, Montreal is seen as the final chance for Ferrari if they have any aspirations of putting up a championship fight to their rivals in 2019.
“The Canadian GP should be an opportunity to try and bring home a good result,” Charles Leclerc said.
“We must do everything well to prepare the car right down to the last detail so that we can get the most out of it.
“Last week, I was in the simulator in Maranello to work on settings and on improving the car and myself for this round.
“I find this track very interesting because it includes various types of corner and a long straight where it should be possible to overtake.
“I really hope we can have a successful weekend,” he concluded.
Sebastian Vettel is a two-time winner in Montreal, including last year as he broke Mercedes’ run of dominance at this race.
And in his preview, he explained what he considered the secret to a good lap.
“Usually, the track starts off really slippery and it takes quite a while to rubber in and provide a decent level of grip,” he said.
“The track is also known for being stop-and-go, with long straights and heavy braking points, split up by a few slow corners and some chicanes where you need to use the kerbs a lot.
Also Read:
- Mercedes & Ferrari coy on Canadian GP chances
- Vettel still sees potential for Ferrari but admits it ‘won’t happen overnight‘
“The final part of the lap is usually the key: you have to brake perfectly at the big hairpin so that you get the best exit to have a lot of speed on the long straight that leads to the pit lane or the final chicane.
“This is where you can try and overtake.”
It’s not just Ferrari putting pressure on themselves either, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen aware of the threat they will pose.
“I expect Ferrari to be more competitive in Canada, so for us, it may be a bit more difficult, but as always we will try and maximise the result,” the Dutchman commented.
