BINOTTO PLEASED WITH LECLERC’S, BUT SEEMS TO BE DISAPPOINTED OF VETTEL

This was a superb performance based upon that wonderful qualifying lap yesterday.

It’s a great fillip for the Ferrari team after its disastrous fall from grace this season. Leclerc was even able to use his offset tyre strategy against Verstappen to keep the Red Bull under pressure for third for a while. After it became clear that was no longer on offer, he just brought it home.

This was by far Ferrari’s most convincing race performance of the season even if they have scored better results. Leclerc was very much at the heart of it.

SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT

Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto believes the squad has made only a “slight improvement” in spite of its encouraging result as Formula 1’s Portuguese Grand Prix.

Charles Leclerc ensured Ferrari had the third-fastest car in qualifying for the third time in the last four events as he finished behind only the Mercedes drivers and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

At previous events in Mugello and the Nürburgring Leclerc was unable to convert that speed in race trim, falling behind Renault, Racing Point, McLaren, as well as AlphaTauri.

But at Portimao Leclerc maintained fourth position after a frantic opening few laps to give Ferrari its best result since the second of Silverstone’s two races.

It came as Ferrari introduced further updates to its SF1000, focusing on the diffuser, as part of a package that has been gradually implemented across recent events.

However Binotto was quick to play down the significance of Ferrari’s Portimao display.

“I don’t think it’s day and night compared to the Mugello, I think the car was slightly improved, but it’s not a completely different picture,” he said.

“When I think the battle is so close in the midfield, a couple of tenths may help being ahead of staying behind.

“I think in the Mugello our race pace was very poor, compared to qualifying, I think here the race pace has been better, but there are many reasons for it and not only the car upgrades.

“I think it’s important for us that we prove in the next races that they are bringing us the performance we’ve seen here or if it was just specific to Portimão.”

Ferrari had both SF1000s in the points for only the fourth time this season as Sebastian Vettel rounded out the top 10.

Ferrari preserved sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship, extending its advantage over nearest opponent AlphaTauri to 16 points.

BINOTTO NOT COMPLETELY HAPPY

Vettel had to start from 15th place on the Portimao circuit. More than tenth place was not possible for the four-time world champion. 

“The cars of Seb and Charles are undoubtedly identical. I sincerely hope that Sebastian can qualify better at Imola and show what he is capable of during the race. Charles is certainly very good. But maybe you can expect even more from a second driver,” Binotto seems a bit dissatisfied.

BINOTTO PLEASED WITH LECLERC’S, BUT SEEMS TO BE DISAPPOINTED OF VETTEL BINOTTO PLEASED WITH LECLERC’S, BUT SEEMS TO BE DISAPPOINTED OF VETTEL

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