P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Leclerc: Ferrari "lacking a little bit of pace" to challenge Red Bull to Suzuka F1 pole
During FP1 at Suzuka, Carlos Sainz clocked the best time for Ferrari, falling short of Max Verstappen’s time by 0.213s, while Leclerc ended up sixth behind both McLarens. Leclerc expressed hopes of securing pole position on Saturday but acknowledged Red Bull’s strong performance so far. Sainz, on the other hand, felt optimistic about Ferrari’s progress compared to last year, aiming to challenge Red Bull despite recognizing the task’s difficulty. Red Bull’s advisor, Helmut Marko, took note of Ferrari’s pace during FP1, speculating that Ferrari’s competitiveness might be due to lower fuel and higher engine modes. Marko emphasized the need for Red Bull to fine-tune their latest upgrades for Suzuka and hoped for dry conditions to maximize the car’s performance in qualifying and the race.
