Despite hurdles, Ferrari shows improvement in 2024; Vasseur optimistic.
Fred Vasseur remains stoic in the face of Ferrari’s current Formula 1 situation. Once hailed as the top-performing team of 2024, the Maranello outfit now trails behind McLaren F1 and Mercedes, the main rivals of Red Bull.
“Looking at the numbers, we have performed significantly better than last year—two victories, eleven podiums, 50% more points,” Vasseur told Corriere della Sera. “Of course, there have been ups and downs, but that is the case for all teams.”
“Red Bull dominated at the start, then we did well, followed by McLaren and finally Mercedes. It will be a rollercoaster until the end. The difference between the cars is still around two-tenths.”
Vasseur even predicts more Ferrari victories in the remaining 10 races of the season: “Of course, when you are within two-tenths, you expect them. What’s important is not to get swept away by emotion. It’s not a tragedy to finish a GP in sixth place, sometimes it’s just a matter of performance and you don’t need revolutions.”
Asked about Ferrari’s constructor’s title ambitions, Vasseur said: “We discussed it over the summer. The goal is to progress and not lose more points because after that, there will be races that are theoretically more favorable for us. We are 60 points behind, it’s not a lot.”
He admits that Ferrari had to backtrack on a faulty car development recently but denies it was linked to the departure of technical director Enrico Cardile: “Absolutely not. What we brought to the track in June was designed before April. And what we will see in Monza or Singapore was born before the summer break.”
However, one theory is that Vasseur’s emphasis on team stability might have been compromised: “Stability doesn’t mean keeping Cardile. It means we have a solid leadership group of over 100 people and we meet regularly to discuss.”
“We are an organisation where the collective matters more than the individual. That said, we’ve hired 60 people in 12 months without making it public. The only one who got attention was Loic Serra, but only because his name was mentioned by others.”
“And one must not forget that with the budget cap, it’s impossible to always keep the same people. But we will not have a different technical structure. There will be a technical director coming from outside. We should announce this after Monza.”
Asked about the pursuit of Adrian Newey, Vasseur reminded that PSG has never won the Champions League despite having the best players: “I’ve always said that the team comes first. This applies to engineers, drivers, and everyone else.”
“It’s not the sum of talents that generates performance, but the right combination of factors. PSG always took the best, but they never won the Champions League. We, on the other hand, are on the right track.”
When asked if this means the group matters more than genius, Vasseur replies: “Yes, it’s a consequence of the budget cap. Before, Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes spent without limit.”
“Now that’s no longer possible, and they must be more efficient. Other teams, however, are accustomed to operating with fewer resources. It’s also a lesson, and the result is a championship like never before where eight drivers can win.”
Carlos Sainz knows he will be replaced by Lewis Hamilton next year, and Vasseur introduced Hamilton as the ‘ideal’ driver for Ferrari. Asked why Ferrari signed Hamilton rather than Verstappen, Vasseur responded: “Beyond Max’s long contract with Red Bull, Lewis is ideal for Ferrari. For his experience, for the relationship he has with Charles, for his calm.”
Before his triumph at Silverstone, Hamilton hadn’t tasted victory since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021: “I never had any doubts,” declared Vasseur. “I’ve always believed it was a matter of motivation; as soon as he senses victory, he unleashes. For who knows how long he’s had Ferrari in mind, he will give his all.”
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Vasseur Optimistic as Ferrari Outpaces 2023 Hurdles Vasseur Optimistic as Ferrari Outpaces 2023 Hurdles
