With a new momentum, Ferrari has recently come a little closer to the tip, but the Scuderia stars are stacked deep for the Formula 1 GP from Hungary-for various reasons.
Ferrari recently added upgrades, but that’s not enough to jump to the top. After all, in Belgium Charles Leclerc was recently able to collect a podium behind the two McLaren pilots. Does the team -mate Lewis Hamilton confidence before the Grand Prix of Hungary, that there will soon be regular trophies for Scuderia?
“I think the upgrade is definitely a progress,” says the Brit, but also brakes a bit: “We are still in the process of getting the full potential, there is still more. Fine work is still necessary. Charles did a great job last weekend and was currently on the podium, but we are not yet on the level of McLaren,” said Hamilton, which I can not say: ” I hope so.”
In any case, Budapest should accommodate him personally, with eight wins and nine Poles, the record world champion has an extraordinary track record on the Hungaroring – succeeding on Saturday in the fight for the starting places maybe even the tenth prank? “If you look at our previous qualifying sessions this year, we were mostly far from the pole. For me it says: step by step.”
Hamilton about Antonelli: “Let him know that I am there”
Hamilton makes it clear: “I just want to get the best out this weekend. To be honest, I don’t know how we are here.” However, according to his own statement for him, the route for him, even in difficult years, was not a special omen for him: “No, to be honest not. I don’t want to compare it with other years – and no, I don’t think so this time,” he says when asked about a surprise success or even the big turning point for Ferrari.
A turn, however, that also wants Hamilton’s successor to Mercedes, Kimi Antonelli. In Spa, the Brit had tried to cheer up the rookie, which, due to its latest form crisis, presented himself strongly: “I let him know that I am there for him. It is important to show people that they are not alone – I conveyed that to him,” says the record world champion when he visited the 18 -year -old.
“I’m not trying to impose myself, but I tell him: if you need me. He already has a great environment around him. And he is only 18. I personally was not that far at 18. But he seems ready – especially the first part of his season was strong,” says Hamilton: “I often drove behind him, and you can see that he has talent.”
Hamilton continues: “Now it’s all about experience. It is difficult if you want success and the pressure is great, that can be stressful. But he does it really, very good. He is a great guy.” The Brit also maintains a good relationship with its new team -mate Charles Leclerc – but according to his own statement in relation to the Hungaroring, Hamilton cannot help the Monegassen:
Leclerc: “By far my worst route”
“No idea, really none. I’ve never driven with him here in the same team – unfortunately I can’t say anything,” explains Hamilton. On Thursday, Leclerc himself described Hungaroring as “by far my worst route in the calendar”. Although he and the world in Budapest, he finally wanted to “prove the opposite”, but Leclerc’s is not big. But what is that causing him to work on the course?
“I don’t know – I wish I knew it. It just never went well for me in the past,” the Ferrari driver puzzles: “It is probably because of my driving style, I have to work a little harder here than on other routes – but that’s fine.” However, this is curious, after all, Leclerc is considered a Monaco specialist and Hungaroring is also a rather close, winding course.
“Maybe it’s the walls that I miss here!” Lach Leclerc: “I really don’t know why.” But can he succeed in repeating the spa podium at the weekend? “The result would suggest that we had four podiums in the last six races. Nevertheless, I don’t think we are already at the level to say: We are the second strongest team in the field.”
Although Leclerc clarifies: “But we are working on the right direction. There have been some upgrades in the past few weeks that helped us to close the gap. But as far as the weekend is concerned, I am not so safe” – after all, the Hungaroring …