Ferrari: Fred Vasseur sets crucial improvement goal for Maranello team. Fred Vasseur stresses the need for Ferrari to address the gap between qualifying and race pace.

Ferrari’s team principal, Fred Vasseur, has emphasized the importance of addressing a significant gap between Ferrari’s qualifying performance and race pace, describing it as “critical” for the team’s future success.

Charles Leclerc secured Ferrari’s first podium finish of the season in Saudi Arabia, but despite posting some competitive lap times during the race, he was unable to challenge Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen for the victory, finishing 8.1 seconds behind Oscar Piastri. While Charles Leclerc demonstrated strong pace in the race, his qualifying performance was less impressive. He was out-qualified by Mercedes’ George Russell and was 0.376 seconds slower than Verstappen’s pole time.

Although Fred Vasseur acknowledged the progress made in race conditions, he pointed out that Ferrari’s single-lap pace remains a major area of concern. According to Fred Vasseur, the difference between qualifying and race pace is the team’s most pressing issue. He highlighted Charles Leclerc’s performance in the second stint of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where the Ferrari driver was quicker than both Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen for much of the final 35 to 40 laps. However, Frederic Vasseur noted that Ferrari struggles significantly during qualifying, which negatively impacts their race results.

The Ferarri team boss further explained that starting from fourth place in the grid places the team at a disadvantage, as Charles Leclerc, for instance, found himself in dirty air and lost valuable time in the first few laps. As a result, even if a solid race pace is maintained, the team often finds itself finishing in third position. This issue, according to the French manager, needs urgent attention to ensure more consistent performance throughout the weekend, from qualifying through to the race itself.

Despite these challenges, Frederic Vasseur remained optimistic following the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, recognizing the improvements made in the race and the potential for further progress. He believes that with better consistency, especially in qualifying, Ferrari can unlock even better performance in upcoming races.