Fred Vasseur confident "Ferrari SF-24 will adapt to Suzuka better than last year's car"

Scuderia Ferrari arrives at Suzuka buoyed by the excitement of their victory in Australia, achieved after a weekend where, although Max Verstappen’s retirement significantly facilitated their work, the SF-24 proved to be a competitive car right from the start.

It’s clear that Melbourne represents an atypical circuit in the entirety of the calendar, with its unique asphalt and its intermediate nature between a city circuit and a true high-speed track. For this reason, while Ferrari presents itself in Japan with some confidence, they are also well aware that at Suzuka, the concrete risk is to once again see Red Bull as the absolute reference, not forgetting the role McLaren could play in the fight for the podium.

The tally for the Prancing Horse so far boasts four podium finishes in the first three races, including the impressive one-two achieved in Australia. But the most encouraging aspect is that on three different tracks, they have consistently shown themselves to be the second force. The SF-24 has proven to be the most balanced car among the chasers, while McLaren, Aston Martin, and Mercedes have displayed certain strengths but also certain weaknesses that have fluctuated the competitive landscape from weekend to weekend.

“So far, it’s been quite good. We’ve made progress compared to last year. Melbourne was probably the best weekend, but overall, the first two events of the season went very well too. We weren’t far from Red Bull. We got four podiums in three weekends, a win, and a one-two. It’s a good start,” recounted Frederic Vasseur during the Tokyo Festival, the event preceding the Japanese Grand Prix.

“However, it’s a season that is also very, very competitive. If you look at McLaren behind us, Aston, and Mercedes, everyone is very, very close. And every weekend, we’ll have to start from scratch and then push again. That’s the DNA of this sport. It’s nice to get somewhere and feel like you can win the race, and I think that’s the case for a couple of teams.” – the French manager pointed out.

The fast direction changes and long sweeping corners of the Japanese track last year highlighted the qualities of the RB19, which finished the race with about twenty seconds advantage over the closest rival, Lando Norris on the MCL60. Although not at the level of the championship-leading car, in the past season, the British car made the first sector its hunting ground, unlike Ferrari, in an area where the major weaknesses of the project emerged.

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This year, however, the SF-24 seems like a more complete car than its predecessor. Not only is it easier to drive for the drivers, but it’s also more predictable and gentle on the tires. Moreover, while performing well in medium-speed sections, it seems to adapt better to a wider range of scenarios than in the past. The progress is evident, but it’s clear that weaknesses cannot be resolved in just one offseason, and at the same time, there are cars that can express themselves more convincingly in certain areas with specific characteristics.

For example, although the Prancing Horse didn’t disappoint in Jeddah and Melbourne, a performance gap was still evident in the faster corners and rapid direction changes compared to Red Bull and McLaren. And it’s precisely in these areas that the Prancing Horse seeks confirmation at Suzuka, one of the most technical tracks in the entire championship.

“I think the track is everyone’s favorite because it’s very exciting. Last year, we didn’t do very well, but on this type of corners, high-speed corners, we’ve improved compared to a year ago. And if you look at the first three events, in these corners, the gap was contained, we’re talking about one or two tenths per lap. It means everything is open,” added the Ferrari Team Principal, emphasizing, however, that Red Bull will once again be the car to beat.

“I’m convinced that Red Bull will be very strong in Japan. It will be difficult, but everything is open, and I think that winning last week is good motivation, as well as a boost for all team members. It’s an extra motivation for Carlos because he had a great start to the season, for Charles because he wants to do well. It’s a good reward for everyone, we’re heading in the right direction. We hope to do well in Japan this weekend.” – he pointed out.

This year, the event has been moved up: it’s no longer in the latter part of the calendar, towards the end of the season, but at the beginning of the championship. According to Pirelli, this change could lead to some differences in tire usage, making a single pit stop not so remote a possibility, although clearly, everything will need to be verified during the weekend. According to Vasseur, however, the biggest difference lies in the fact that the team still has to fully understand the car, to the extent that major updates should not be expected.

“I would say at the beginning the weather is quite similar! There’s not a big difference between October and this weekend. The big difference is that at the beginning of the season, you don’t know the potential of the car and we’re all a little more blind. But in the end, when you look at the potential of the car and the competitors, I believe this season will be a much more open race than last year when the hierarchy was clear, and it will probably be a much more exciting event,” concluded the Ferrari Team Principal ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka circuit.

Fred Vasseur, Ferrari