It’s not a novelty. Those in front ease off, while the ones chasing sow optimism. Max Verstappen, of course, has tried to shift the status of favourites to an opponent who is not clearly defined.
The championship leader emphasized that the strength of the RB19 is not in qualifying pace and that the result on Saturday afternoon will be crucial for the race. From another perspective, the Ferrari perspective, the content is the same.
“Since the beginning of the season, we have always been able to fight for pole position,” highlighted Frederic Vasseur. “And if you can start from the front row at the Monaco circuit, you expect to be able to fight for victory. For sure, it’s a good opportunity for us.” – the French managed admitted.
The decision to postpone the debut of the update package planned for the SF-23 was not only motivated by the distinctly atypical characteristics of the Monte Carlo track.
“This weekend, we want to focus much more on the setup and drivability,” Fred Vasseur reiterated. “We will only have a few small updates on the car that were already planned for Imola, but the major part will be in Barcelona next week. Here in Monaco, the imperative is to make the most of all the practice sessions, working solely on the car’s setup. We know that everyone will be focused on qualifying; it’s no secret.” – the Ferrari boss.
However, there are those who have recalled that last year, Ferrari managed to secure the front row on Saturday but faltered in the race in a weather-influenced scenario, which could also appear next Sunday.
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“All those on the grid have made mistakes,” commented Frederic Vasseur. “And I believe that in general, making decisions is always more difficult for those at the front compared to those behind. When you are chasing, you have nothing to lose, so the two situations cannot be compared. Regarding this season, we have made interventions on the strategy front, and so far, there have been no mistakes. I am more than satisfied with the work done both in the pit wall and at the headquarters.”
The eve of the Monaco weekend also provided an opportunity to learn about the analysis carried out in Maranello after the Miami Grand Prix, a race in which both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz complained about difficulties in tire management.
“I can’t go into too much detail,” Frederic Vasseur commented. “But I don’t believe the problem was related to tire management. We detected a lack of pace in the race, and when you push too hard, you end up overheating the tires. Overall, I believe that what emerged in Miami was more due to the fact that the car was difficult to drive, and this caused the drivers to push and trigger overheating.” – the Ferrari boss concluded ahead of the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix.
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