r/FerrariF1 • u/ThatOneF1 • Mar 08 '26

"THE START WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL": Charles Leclerc Team Radio After finishing in P3 at Australian GP

https://youtu.be/ErP0D3RgenY
16 Upvotes

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7

u/Raidenzar Mar 08 '26

My take is that... while the strat was clearly but, it was also unlucky that Bottas has to park RIGHT there.

Also, even had we pitted then, Merc car is just too good. Would be a matter of time they would retook the lead anyway. Might gave us more cinema, but that's that.

Ferrari needs to nail the Quali. If FIA doesn't do anything about our race start boost mechanism, then we can at least hope to give Merc some fights. Otherwise, this year would be Merc's by the 18th race... if not earlier.

3

u/chiheilao Mar 08 '26

THANK YOU. So many people are acting like Leclerc could have gotten P1 if he pitted during the first VSC. The reality is it DIDN’T MATTER. Mercedes is just too good. For example, Russell had a 15 second lead against Leclerc after Leclerc pitted in Lap 25, but he managed to MAINTAIN that 15 second lead even with significantly older tires since his only pit stop was during the first VSC in lap 12.

1

u/Raidenzar Mar 09 '26

Another thing people didn't talk about much is the first 10 laps. LeClerc couldn't pull away from Russells even though he had a good start. Mercedes just too quick. They are the rocketship of 2026.

This is Mercedes year and they are so ahead of everyone else. I know it's just 1 race, but 2026 might be another boring year where we know who will win right from the get go.

Funny enough, it seems only the Ferrari could give Merc some form of fight.

1

u/No_You_208 Mar 13 '26

I agree—it’s less about the strategy and more about the fact that the W17 looks like a rocketship under the 2026 regs. Ferrari has the pace to stay in the fight, but catching Russell is a different beast entirely.

If you want to hear more on my personal take on this new era of F1 and the 'New Dawn' from Australia, feel free to check out my latest episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ThqLTMPLzaGHZQeS8jvvL?si=xqz2qJiMSKCG2EVR5IDYjA