Despite suspicions of fuel loads and sandbagging in pre-testing, Ferrari fell well short of the benchmark time in the season-opening qualifying at the Australian Grand Prix.
But even though the best-placed Ferrari of Charles Leclerc was almost seven-tenths down on Lando Norris’ pole position time, Andrea Stella is still taking Ferrari’s performance with a pinch, if not a bucket, of salt.
Are Ferrari sandbagging?
Ferrari came away from pre-season testing with all the data crunchers saying they were at best the second-fastest team, if not even P4.
However, Norris, whose MCL39 was declared to be the car to beat, scoffed at this when he hinted that he knew about Ferrari’s programme over the three days.
“I know how much fuel…