Formula 1 News: Vasseur Refuses to Get Comfortable as Ferrari Closes In on Red Bull
As Formula 1 wraps up its thrilling Monaco Grand Prix, Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur remains steadfast in his commitment to continuous improvement, refusing to bask in the team’s recent successes. With Charles Leclerc’s win in Monaco, Ferrari has now closed the gap to 31 points behind Max Verstappen in the Formula 1 standings, and 24 points behind Red Bull in the constructors’ standings.
Vasseur’s philosophy emphasizes the importance of humility and constant self-improvement, cautioning against complacency in the face of success. “If you start to think that you are in a good shape, you are dead,” he warned the Italian media. “It means that we need to keep the same approach and to have continuous improvement, department by department, on every single area, including drivers, including the pit wall, including everything.”
Under Vasseur’s leadership, Ferrari has undergone a significant transformation, shedding its previous reputation for finger-pointing and blame culture. The team’s confidence and cohesion have grown, as reflected in Leclerc’s praise for his team boss: “He’s got such a clear vision of what he wants to achieve and how to achieve it… He doesn’t lose time, and that is definitely his strength.”
While Ferrari’s second win of the season is a significant morale-booster, Vasseur is careful to keep his focus on the immediate future, rather than getting distracted by long-term goals. “It would be a mistake, strategically speaking, to think about the end of the championship,” he cautioned. “We have to be focused on the next race, on Canada, on the development, to get the best from what we have and to do a good job, and then [we’ll see] what will come at the end.”
The Ferrari boss also acknowledged the vital role of Carlos Sainz, who has maintained a strong campaign despite knowing he will leave the team at the end of the season. Vasseur praised Sainz’s professionalism and commitment, saying, “He is a mega professional, fully committed and he is doing a great job. I am convinced that it will stay like this until the end of 2024.”
As Ferrari gears up for the Canadian Grand Prix, Vasseur’s message to his team is clear: every individual and department has a crucial role to play in driving the team towards Formula 1 success. “I told them that every single member is a performance differentiator,” he said. “Everybody in the company is playing a role, and it’s not just about the head of aerodynamics or the chief engineer. Performance is coming from everybody in terms [of] speeding up the production or quality.”
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