Ferrari’s new ground has caught the eye of their F1 rivals on the Austrian Grand Prix.
The Italian outfit have introduced a serious ground replace to the Purple Bull Ring in a bid to assist turnaround their fortunes after a disappointing begin to the 2025 F1 season.
With the brand new ground connected to their vehicles, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton secured Ferrari’s finest qualifying results of the season up to now by taking second and fourth.
Though Leclerc ended up half a second adrift of polesitter Lando Norris, the improve has grabbed McLaren’s consideration.
“Ferrari had been very shut, I might say up till the final run in Q3. Not stunned in any respect,” McLaren crew principal Stella informed media together with Crash.internet in Spielberg.
“We discuss Ferrari, we discuss a crew with two very quick drivers. And likewise, after I have a look at the submission of latest components for this occasion, I believe Ferrari, they’ve a completely new ground.
“And it is a new ground. It is the aspect of the ground, the diffuser, the beneath, the fences, it is a fully new ground.
“So because of this they have been pushing onerous from a growth standpoint, and I am not stunned that they had been in situation to enhance their efficiency.”
Leclerc credited Ferrari’s upgrades for his return to the entrance row of the grid in Austria.
“The upgrades positively helped us at the moment. How a lot? It’s tough to know,” Leclerc defined.
“Particularly whenever you see how nice the margins are aside from Lando. It positively helped us to get the entrance row at the moment. So on that, we must be pleased with the work we’ve achieved.
“Other than that, I believe we did an important job. We labored very effectively this weekend and I’m trying ahead to tomorrow as a result of more often than not our race automotive is best than our qualifying automotive.”
May Ferrari problem McLaren for the win?
Stella is cautious of the risk posed by an improved Ferrari.
“We all know that they are at all times good, particularly when there is a want of a protracted stint and when there’s uncertainty between one and two stops,” Stella mentioned.
“They might be capable to do a one cease, let’s have a look at. In the intervening time, we don’t know precisely what the proper factor goes to be strategically.
“So Ferrari is there, and I will surely not low cost Verstappen as effectively. It appears to be like right here like Mercedes might be struggling a bit extra, however once more, let’s have a look at within the race.”
Leclerc is uncertain whether or not Ferrari’s efficiency will translate into the race however vowed to make McLaren’s life “as robust as doable”.
“We are going to see. I don’t have the solutions for now,” Leclerc mentioned when requested about Ferrari’s race day hopes. “The hole could be very huge at the moment however tomorrow with tyre administration, I believe that we now have a robust automotive.
“Whether or not it is going to be nearly as good because the McLaren? I don’t know however I’ll do completely do all the pieces I can to make the McLarens life as robust as doable.”
