While the upgrades didn’t immediately translate into on-track success in Barcelona, the Ferrari team showed a marked improvement right from the beginning of the second practice session in Canada. Leclerc and his teammate Carlos Sainz traded fastest laps early on, leaving them both within the top five positions on the timesheets. Astonishingly, they even managed to outpace the dominant Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, sending shockwaves through the Red Bull camp.
As the Friday practice sessions drew to a close, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko couldn’t help but express his concern over Ferrari’s improved pace, as well as that of their main rival, Mercedes. In particular, Marko highlighted Leclerc’s impressive long run, which left a lasting impression on the Austrian. Speaking to ServusTV, Marko admitted, “Leclerc’s long run was very impressive.”
