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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 15: Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari talks with Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto in the garage during practice for the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on March 15, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images)
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 15: Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari talks with Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto in the garage during practice for the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on March 15, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images)
Ferrari are continuing to defy the expectations. Yes, for a team of their stature, P4 and P5 aren’t exactly what they aspire for. But after a tumultuous 2020 F1 season, they are on the rise with Charles Leclerc running at P2 after the restart. However, with modern-day drivers relying so much on their race engineers for information, Leclerc was on his own.
Team Radios have been one of the talking points of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Perez’s connection loss was the primary reason for his collision with Ocon during FP1. And by the looks of it, it hindered Leclerc after the restart on Lap 34.
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Formula One F1 – Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy – April 15, 2021 Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the FIA Press Conference FIA/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
“When Charles was behind Verstappen, he did not have the radio. So he was speaking with us, but we didn’t manage to speak with him. And Charles in that situation was distracted from the radio, he knew he couldn’t communicate with us, he didn’t even know it was a rolling start, he thought the race restarted from the grid,” said Team Principal Mattia Binotto.
Truly astonishing! We wonder the scenes that could have unfolded if Leclerc took the lead of the race at the formation lap when Verstappen spun and instead of pulling away, line up on the grid itself! Thankfully, with Max still ahead, he was able to follow his lead –
“Then he noticed that when they were going. But for a driver these are all conditions that make things even more complicated in an already difficult moment.”
‘Red flag cost Charles Leclerc the podium’ – Mattia Binotto
The home race also caused some disappointment among the Tifosi. It was because they were on course to garb a Podium before the race was red-flagged. However, Binotto sees positive in them possessing a winning mentality –
“Without the red flag, we are sure that our potential could have led us also to a better result. And so seeing a disappointed and a bitter team is a positive sign, because the mentality is to win. This is a good sign.”
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Formula One F1 – Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy – Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in action during qualifying REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
These are good times for Ferrari. They have somewhat turned the tables around. Even though there is still a long way to go for them to become a title contender, this should provide them with enough spark to ignite a title bid next season.
Read More: 2021 Championship standings after Verstappen’s thrilling Imola win
