Sainz Clocks Third in Practice - Leclerc Close Behind

Ferrari’s SF-24 impresses, with Sainz and Leclerc proving competitive in Monza’s practice rounds.

At their home circuit, Ferrari is anticipated to unveil updates, with the SF-24 undeniably among the top eight vehicles from the four leading teams vying for pole position and victory at Monza.

Carlos Sainz clocked the third fastest time, a mere tenth behind Lewis Hamilton.

“It was a very busy and interesting Friday. The Monza track has undergone significant changes, with very different kerbs and a new surface. For this reason, the challenges and boundaries are quite different from previous years, and we had to adapt to a new scenario in terms of car settings and understanding tyre degradation.”

“There is much work to be done tonight to improve for tomorrow, but overall, it was a positive start to the weekend.”

Charles Leclerc was fifth, just a tenth and a half off the pace set by Mercedes F1.

“It was a generally positive day. Our performance is good, driving the car was enjoyable, and the improvements we made to the vehicle are working as expected.”

“Our main focus will now be on balance, as there is still room for improvement in this area. Sunday’s race will be challenging for everyone, especially because of the new asphalt, so tyre management will be crucial. We are closer to our competitors than at Zandvoort, but they remain very strong and we will face stiff competition tomorrow.”

Jock Clear, Ferrari’s performance chief, provided an update on the enhancements made by Ferrari, starting with the floor.

“It’s an evolution, not entirely new. We hope it will suit the remainder of the races well. This area isn’t specifically a floor for Monza, so it’s merely an additional development on the same theme.”

“The rebound comes from the initial gain of a downforce load. The car is suddenly sucked downwards, then, of course, it stalls and lifts again. You’re always looking to gain that little extra that might pull the car down and then lift it again. You’re always trying to get a bit more but maintain it without causing a rebound.”

Clear denied that Ferrari had specifically organized to introduce improvements for its fans.

“There was no additional pressure; it’s a natural development, simply the schedule,” stated one team insider.

“It’s one of those things where the x-axis of development is always time. Anyone can develop—the key is how quickly you do so.”

“In F1, there’s never a moment when you choose not to develop as rapidly as possible—except perhaps a year ago for Red Bull, who may have opted not to introduce upgrades because they didn’t need them when in such a fortunate position.”

“But for most teams, everything is done as swiftly as possible. There’s no mindset that dictates we must do it at Monza. If it were feasible to implement it at Monza, we would have always done it there, even if Monza had been Zandvoort or Barcelona. It’s not because it’s a Ferrari track and we’re here in Italy.”

“We develop as quickly as possible, because that’s what F1 demands.”