Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur is optimistic about the Maranello team’s approach in the 2024 Formula 1 championship, noting that the Italian side has started pushing beyond their usual boundaries, a strategy he believes has been a key advantage for Red Bull in recent years.
Despite a setback with their aerodynamic package which was introduced at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona in the Spanish Grand Prix earlier this season, Ferrari had shown strong form since last year’s Dutch Grand Prix, where they began to make significant strides with the SF-23.
Ferrari emulates Red Bull’s aggressive approach
The Italian side has consistently secured more podium finishes than any team other than the dominant Red Bull, continuing that momentum into the early part of the current Formula 1 campaign with the SF-24, which builds on the F1 2023 single-seater.
In an effort to accelerate their development, Ferrari introduced several new components, including a revised floor in Barcelona. However, this led to issues with porpoising, forcing the Maranello technicians to revert to previous configurations for the following rounds.
Despite the recent setbacks, the French manager remains encouraged by Ferrari’s newfound willingness to be “aggressive” and take calculated risks, a shift that he sees as a positive development for the team: “We became more aggressive,” he said in an interview for German magazine Auto Motor und Sport when asked about the Italian side’s last year – “For me, this new basic attitude had more impact than anything else. That means daring to step out of your comfort zone. Whether it’s the amount of fuel you need for the race, the weight, the cooling, or the car’s set-up. In my opinion, that was one of Red Bull’s biggest trump cards.” – Fred Vasseur pointed out.
When the reported replied that taking risks can also lead to errors, as happened with the aerodynamic package introduced in the Barcelona weekend, Fred Vasseur stood by his position:
“Yes, but it also sharpens the senses. For example: if you want to push the weight to the limit, you have to think very carefully beforehand about how much weight the car will lose during the race due to wear and tear on the underbody, the tyres, the brakes, and the oil consumption. So you learn to push the limit in all areas. If the result is three kilograms and you take four, you have already lost weight. The same goes for cooling. I can open the fairing one notch more than the limit. Then I have a nice life without worries. Depending on the circumstances, I may have to manage a little more here and there during the race, but the bottom line is that it costs less than it brings. Every kilo too much, every degree cooler than necessary, costs you three hundredths. In total, you have given away a tenth. That can make up three positions on the starting grid. If you operate at the limit, you have to think a lot more. The more attention you pay to a topic, the more precisely you work. This thinking continues in all other areas.” – the Ferrari team principal explained.
“Of course, you expose yourself to the risk of making mistakes. If things are going really badly, you just have to slow down a bit to stay within limits, or you’ll be disqualified. But that’s the price you have to pay if you want to be at the front. That’s how your competitors see it too. When the field is so evenly balanced, you can’t leave anything on the table. That’s why I take responsibility for mistakes. If they happen because we were aggressive, then I accept mistakes. If they arise from carelessness, then that’s a different story.” – Fred Vasseur concluded.
Ferrari has fallen to third place in the Constructors’ Championship, now trailing McLaren by 21 points ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, which will be the first round after the summer break.
