What they say

Ericsson says the Sauber is more competitive in races than in qualifying:

It’s clear we are struggling more over one lap than on race pace. Charles [Leclerc] did a very good job in qualifying but still I think we are stronger for sure in the race.

We are still struggling with the softer compounds. I have a feeling that for some reason we haven’t found a way to optimise them yet. That’s for me the main priority now that we need to find an extra bit of performance on Saturday because I really feel on Sundays we have a good car to fight the midfield.

Charles’ pace was really strong compared to the cars around him. I really feel confident that if we have good track position for the race, starting in the mix, we can have strong races. But obviously these days you need a good starting position. We need to analyse, work hard and analyse how we can take a step on Saturdays.

Links

More motor racing links of interest:

NFL Draft prompts F1 off-season rethink (Motorsport)

“One example would be the NFL, which is not playing right now but they just had the NFL Draft. That is a big event. They have created events that are interesting for fans even when they are not in the season.”

WEC – Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps – Pietro Fittipaldi (FIA)

“He was operated on last night for fractures to both his legs, and the operation went well. He remains under observation at the Centre Hospitalier de la Citadelle de Liege.”

How Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull solved the Baku wing conundrum (F1)

“At Baku last year Ferrari back-to-backed a conventionally-shaped main plane (above left side) with a spoon-style version (above right side) and opted to qualify and race the latter. This year, they plumped immediately for a spoon profile.”

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On this day in F1

• Carlos Reutemann put his Ferrari on pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix on this day 40 years ago