Norris laughs but he has to watch out for the Ferraris. Plates plunged into a mysterious crisis
(Of Daniel Sparisci) Two against one, this time there is no SuperMax in pursuit of the McLaren of Norris but two Ferrari. Finally. Plates instead he fell into a mysterious crisis (technical or mental?) and today risks losing command of the Worldsprints seventh. Lando he laughs, few people talked about him until a few months ago except to highlight his defects: too fragile, too discontinuous. And instead from the top of pole number 14 of his career (the fifth of the season) he thinks back to the coldness with which he extinguished Leclerc’s resistance with a monstrous lap.
On the penultimate attempt, Charles had invented one of his own numbers, the mission seemed accomplished. But then the boy from Bristol arrived to give him over two and a half tenths. But the Monegasque doesn’t waste time with regrets, he will only have to play in attack to cradle the dream of the first victory of the season. Avoiding trouble with Hamilton who sprints after him and playing with strategies because Lando cannot afford not to finish the race and could also think from a conservative perspective if Piastri gets stuck in traffic and if Verstappen (fifth at the start on a less than brilliant Red Bull) will struggle to climb back up as he predicted, with very severe tones: «A disaster, the balance was completely missing, nothing to save».
Lando on the other hand is fired up, the gap from Piastri is 14 points: «I’m here to win, I know it will be a battle with Charles and Lewis». We saw a competitive Ferrari, thanks to a spot-on job in preparing the car and excellent execution by the team on the track. Leclerc thanks: «I don’t think we had any more margin, we did a good job. Winning (twelve months after the Red Team’s last success, in Mexico with Sainz ed.) it would mean a lot, we’ll do everything we can to put ourselves in first position after the first corner and then we’ll see what happens». For Hamilton it is one of the greatest opportunities to take his first podium with Ferrari: «I’m happy, I’m honored to be here with Leclerc and Norris, who have been fast all year. It’s the first time this season that there are two Ferraris in the top three positions on the grid, we’re working great and I’m grateful to the team who are pushing without giving up.”
But what is behind the awakening of the reds? «We have reviewed some procedures – reveals Lewis – there is no magic wand. But only method and application.” In the meantime, rumors continue to filter out from the paddock a top-tier team that would have exceeded the budget cap for 2024the equivalent of financial fair play in football, more significantly than the minor procedural breach admitted by Aston Martin. The FIA has not yet approved the certificates of conformity, Ferrari is calm and does not fall under the attention of the auditors. And the same goes for McLaren. The World Cup, however, is in turmoil.
