Windsor not worried about Ferrari: ‘Just think about this one weekend’

In his report on qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, F1 journalist Peter Windsor discussed Ferrari’s disappointing results. Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc qualified for the race in sixth and seventh place. According to Windsor, this weekend’s results are not a reason to think that there are serious problems within the team.

“It was a difficult day for Ferrari,” it begins Windsor. During qualifying, Sainz went off the track in Q2 and then the red flag was briefly raised. ‘Strangely, he managed to get the car back into the pits even though he had damaged the nose of his car. Then he was able to easily enter Q3. That’s great from Ferrari and Sainz.’

Aston Martin, McLaren, not Ferrari

“It was very difficult between Aston Martin, McLaren Ferrari,” Windsor notes. ‘Ferrari’s performance was disappointing due to their speed compared to Aston Martin and McLaren. You can only attribute that to the fact that this official weekend only has one hour of training. Ferrari was not as well placed for this cycle as, for example, Aston Martin. The Aston Martin team definitely came into this round with the best set-up.’

The difference in top speed was not only great between Ferrari and Aston Martin’s green cars. McLaren also struggled to keep up with Alonso’s Aston Martin during qualifying. ‘There is a big difference in terms of top speed between McLaren and Aston Martin. That could spell trouble for McLaren tomorrow. Even when McLaren has better control over tire damage.’

According to Windsor, Ferrari’s disappointing results in China are not a reason to worry about the Italian racing team. “I don’t think there is a landslide from Ferrari in Formula 1. I think it’s this one weekend where there was no time to set the car properly and therefore Ferrari couldn’t do it,” the Brit concludes.

Kudos to Haas

In addition to its own team, Ferrari also supplies engines to the Formula 1 teams Kick Sauber and Haas. In qualifying, Haas driver Nico Hülkenberg managed to qualify ninth for the Grand Prix on Sunday. Praise for the team is deserved, Windsor believes. “We keep praising that team,” Windsor enthused. ‘What a great job they have done at the start of the season. They were competitive from the start. The set up of their car is more or less correct. You have to consider the fact that they are not the leader when it comes to the data they can rely on. They do an amazing job and set up and its implementation.’