Although the Losail circuit does not, on paper, seem the best fit for the characteristics of the SF-24, Ferrari is determined not to abandon the fight for the Constructors’ title. The team arrives in Qatar eager to further close the gap to McLaren, which was reduced by a third last weekend in Las Vegas.
The Scuderia, somewhat surprisingly, lost ground to a resurgent Mercedes, which thrived thanks to the cold conditions and a higher-downforce aerodynamic configuration. Nevertheless, Ferrari managed to outperform the MCL-38, which is expected to return to top form at Losail.
Fred Vasseur rallies the team
Frederic Vasseur is fully aware of the challenges ahead and expressed himself ahead of what is likely to be a decisive weekend for Maranello’s title hopes: “The second race of this final triple-header sees us move from the cold desert of Las Vegas—where we cut our deficit to McLaren by a third, reducing it from 36 to 24 points—to the much warmer climate of Lusail.”
“The tracks could not be more different. From 90-degree corners interspersed with long straights, we now face a circuit with many high-speed corners, a characteristic that, on paper, does not play to our strengths. The Qatar GP is the last of the season with the Sprint format, which highlights the work teams do back at the factory, given there’s only one free practice session. A total of 59 points are at stake, but we are not in a position to make calculations.” – the French manager pointed out.
“For our part, we need to focus on flawless execution and enable Charles and Carlos to fully exploit the potential of their SF-24s. The incredibly high level of this Formula 1 season, especially in recent races, has shown us that even the smallest details can make the difference and overturn seemingly well-established scenarios.”
Finally, the Frenchman added: “It’s time for the drivers, engineers, and the entire team—both at the track and in Maranello—to give one last push in the final two races of the season. Let’s give it our all!” – the Ferrari team boss concluded.
