The long break of Formula One is coming to an end. Fred Vasseur, Team Principal of Ferrari, is entering his first “real” year as head of the Scuderia. This is considering that the SF-24 was designed under his leadership, while the SF-23 was inherited from the working group managed by the former team principal Mattia Binotto. The return to the track took place today for the first of the three days dedicated to testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, which will also be the venue for the first race of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
As is customary ahead of a new championship, there is much curiosity about the performance of the cars, especially after a 2023 season that didn’t offer great excitement for Formula 1. For everyone, it will be the moment to verify whether what was evaluated in the wind tunnel and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) will be sufficient to make a performance step compared to last season’s projects.
In the case of the Prancing Horse, the declared goal is to reduce the gap to the mighty Red Bull, which dominated the last championship undisturbed, although it did not update its car from late summer onwards. The French manager is facing a reckoning. There will be no more excuses, as what will be produced on the track by the Maranello team is designed from his administration. Fred, recently, gave an interview where he provided more details to understand certain issues.
Ferrari: Vasseur’s difficulties in managing an environment contaminated by wrong technical choices
According to the French executive, the level of expectations was very high 12 months ago. However, even before going to Bahrain, after the first simulator sessions, the Maranello team understood that it would be impossible to meet them. Fred Vasseur appreciated the team’s ability to react, which actually made him proud after a difficult start. This despite it being clear from the first day in Sakhir that the championship was an uphill battle.
The burden of expectations too high compared to the competitiveness of the car made the season very challenging because the team was aware of having to compete in 22 weekends in a technologically inferior situation. Not forgetting that Frederic Vasseur had joined Ferrari only on January 9 to officially take on his role, having very little time to think about the season. The first month was dedicated to the assessment of the Scuderia, disregarding the results that could be achieved.
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This was a complicated path, as the results were not in line with the expectations of fans, the team, drivers, and management. The team’s reactivity was one of the few positive aspects. The first major update introduced in Spain was decided several weeks ahead of schedule, requiring a great effort from technicians and engineers. It was not enough to reach Red Bull, but it proved useful for a season finale where the red car managed to secure several poles, fight with Max Verstappen, and win in Singapore.
Ferrari: What can be expected from the team led by Frederic Vasseur?
The Ferrari team principal stated that the 2024 season is based on what was achieved at the end of the previous one, especially in terms of mentality. Obviously, work organization and attitude are necessary but not sufficient components for success. According to the team principal of the Prancing Horse, in 2023, although Red Bull’s dominance was clear, in some circumstances, the Italian cars were not too far away.
Despite this, Fred Vasseur acknowledges the excellent work done by the Red Bull rivals in all areas, in terms of drivers, team, on-track operations, development, and reliability. The appreciation for Max Verstappen, capable of keeping the team’s motivation always high, is interesting. The first target for the upcoming season is simple: hope that the car is capable of expressing its maximum potential from the first race of the year in the Persian Gulf.
Frederic has displayed a certain tranquility, the result of a long project aimed at opening a winning cycle, which started ten months in advance. The drivers have always been involved in the development of the SF-24, largely based on simulator sessions. The French engineer, of course, has no certainty about the level of competitiveness of Project 676 compared to the competition. “We will see from the qualifying standings,” says the former Alfa Romeo, referring to the SF-24.
The Ferrari boss believes in continuous improvement. A necessary practice to try to do a better job day after day. Without stops or setbacks. The feelings in this regard are quite positive, although the former Sauber is not able (or perhaps does not want) to determine if this process has been faster compared to the rest of the competitors.
Source: Roberto Cecere for FUnoanalisitecnica
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