Ferrari Boss Frederic Vasseur Remains Optimistic Despite Recent Dip in Formula 1 Standings
Formula 1 News: Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has expressed his confidence in the team’s competitiveness despite a recent dip in performance, which saw them fall behind their rivals in the Austrian Grand Prix. Carlos Sainz’s third-place finish was a welcome respite for the Italian marque, but Vasseur believes the car has more to offer.
In an interview, Vasseur dismissed concerns about Ferrari’s recent regression, citing that the team was just one-tenth of a second ahead of Lando Norris before the latter’s clash with Max Verstappen. He emphasized that the perception of the team’s performance would have been different had Charles Leclerc qualified without errors on his last timed run.
“We changed massively the car between Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon,” Vasseur explained. “And I think it was better. We changed a little bit the weakness of the car from corner to corner, but I think overall we are there.”
Vasseur is looking forward to the upcoming Silverstone race, where Ferrari can regroup and reassess their performance. “I think it will be helpful for us to have FP1, FP2 in Silverstone, also if the weather is good, to do a sanity check on everything,” he said.
The Frenchman remains unconcerned about Ferrari’s recent dip, attributing it to the natural ebb and flow of the Formula 1 season. “Honestly, yes, if we finish the lap yesterday in quali, I think I will have the comments that, ‘you are back, you are fighting with Red Bull, you are at less than one-tenth off the pole position, blah, blah, blah,'” Vasseur contended.
Vasseur has backed Leclerc to rebound from his disappointing weekend, which saw him finish 11th due to mistakes and wing damage. “No, it’s the game that for sure,” Vasseur replied when asked about regrets over Leclerc’s qualifying position. “For sure at the end of the session you have regrets, because you say that ‘okay, if you push a little bit less, perhaps that you are not P2, you are P3, it’s better than P6’.”
As Ferrari looks to regain their footing in the Formula 1 standings, Vasseur’s optimism is a welcome boost for the team. With upgrades in the pipeline and a focus on continuous improvement, Ferrari is poised to make a strong comeback in the upcoming races. Formula 1 today is all about adaptability and perseverance, and Vasseur’s approach is a testament to the team’s commitment to success.
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