12/07/2025 17:15
Ferrari has explained that recent radio instructions to Charles
Leclerc do not indicate a fundamental problem with its F1 car.
During the recent Austrian GP, Leclerc, whilst running in third
place, was given firm instructions by his race engineer that "LiCo"
was needed at points during the race. LiCo refers to Lift and
Coast, which engineers often order their drivers to do during races
by coming off the throttle earlier into corners and allow the
aerodynamic forces to slow the car. It can be used to manage fuel
concerns, save the tyres or other problems, such as easing plank
wear by not pushing the car into the track whilst under peak
braking loads, something Ferrari has struggled with at times in
2025, with Lewis Hamilton disqualified for plank wear in China.
Addressing the LiCo messages, deputy team principal Jerome
D'Ambrosio has explained why the team is not concerned. "Lift and
coast can come for various reasons, the point is that in some
races, you try to optimise the package in certain areas of the
car," D'Ambrosio told media, including RacingNews365. "You look at
the season as points, and not as Spielberg or Silverstone or Spa,
you look at it as a maximum points haul you can go and get, so you
look at the best solution on average. "That means in some cases,
you need lift and coast, and it is perfectly normal, but it is
uncomfortable for the drivers, but I think most of the cars are
doing it nowadays, so it is nothing out of the norm. "We debrief
it, and the limitations it brings are a bit difficult to handle
here, but it brings us an advantage there. "Fundamentally, it is
not a problem and it is just part of an optimisation package that
you decide in the season, and it gives you some margin in some
races and less in others."
