“Since the start of the season, we have probably been in better shape during races than in qualifying mode.” This statement from Frédéric Vasseur, Ferrari’s team principal, highlights an intriguing aspect of the Scuderia’s performance throughout the 2024 Formula 1 season. Despite struggles in qualifying, Ferrari has shown to be more competitive during races.
Frederic Vasseur emphasized that the Maranello team did everything possible to achieve the best result during the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. “We knew that reaching the podium this weekend would be nearly impossible, but we had to do a solid job to maximize our performance, and I’m very, very pleased with the work the team has done.” The strategy, pit stops, and tire management were crucial to Ferrari’s success, as the French manager pointed out at the end of the 15th round of the 2024 Formula 1 championship.
Regarding the comparison with McLaren, FredericVasseur mentioned that his focus remains on the car’s development: “I’m not thinking about it in those terms; I’m just trying to do my best, push the development forward, and prepare as well as we can, and then we’ll see what we can achieve.” The team principal also reflected on the progress made last season, where Ferrari significantly improved its performance after a challenging start.
Frederic Vasseur also addressed the balance between qualifying and race performance: “We always want to work on our weaknesses, and the most important one for us, depending on the track, is sometimes placing more emphasis on qualifying.” – the Frenchman added.
Ferrari is striving to improve in both areas but acknowledges that the level of competition is extremely high, and there will be a fierce battle until the end of the season. In conclusion, even Frederic Vasseur himself seems somewhat surprised by this characteristic of the car. “It’s not due to the setup or the car’s features; it’s just the way it is.”
Source: f1ingenerale
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