Leclerc: Sharing FP1 with Arthur the 'Only Positive' in Abu Dhabi

Charles Leclerc found little to celebrate during the opening day of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but one highlight shone through: sharing the Yas Marina circuit with his younger brother, Arthur, during FP1. The Monegasque driver called it a 'very special moment,' even as Ferrari continued to struggle with pace and understanding their car's performance issues.

Why it matters:

• The emotional significance of Charles and Arthur Leclerc sharing the track in F1 is a rare family moment, fulfilling a childhood dream for both brothers.
• Ferrari's ongoing struggles to find consistent pace and address underlying issues, despite strong individual performances, highlight a critical challenge as the season nears its end.
• The team's inability to fully understand the performance drop-off in recent races could impact their momentum heading into the next season and their overall competitiveness.

The Details:

• For the second consecutive year, the Leclerc brothers participated in Friday's first practice session, with 25-year-old Arthur completing Scuderia Ferrari's final mandated rookie outing.
• Arthur Leclerc completed 27 laps, finishing 16th, and playfully joked about his older brother 'doing some burnouts' after Charles spun at Turn 5.
• Charles Leclerc admitted that, aside from the family moment, the rest of the day was a 'struggle,' noting that Ferrari has 'not yet' found solutions for their slow race pace.
• Despite finishing FP1 in P3, just 0.016s behind Lando Norris, Leclerc expressed confusion over a performance deficit that has affected the team for 'two or three races.'
• Hamilton's Perspective: Lewis Hamilton, who participated in FP2 for Ferrari, acknowledged the challenge of missing FP1 but remained cautiously optimistic about the car's potential.
  • Hamilton identified specific issues, including a 'difficult balance,' 'bouncing,' and 'understeer,' stating that addressing these in FP3 could improve their position.
  • He noted that his pace was strong in the first and second sectors but lost 'seven tenths' in the third, indicating a specific area for improvement.

The big picture:

Ferrari's recent performance dip, despite a strong season overall, indicates a persistent underlying issue that the team is struggling to diagnose and resolve. While Charles Leclerc found personal joy in a rare family moment on track, the team's technical challenges cast a shadow over their efforts to finish the season on a high note. The hope is that with focused effort, especially from seasoned drivers like Hamilton, solutions can be found to maximize the SF-25's potential in the final race.

What's next:

Ferrari will intensify its efforts to analyze data and make significant setup changes before tomorrow's Qualifying session. Resolving the unknown performance issues will be crucial for Charles Leclerc to achieve a strong finish to the season. The team will be working closely with both drivers to understand the car's behavior and implement adjustments that can provide a more competitive package for the remainder of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend.