Frederic Vasseur strategically addressed questions about Lewis Hamilton, opening the press conference (following the presentation of the SF24) with a statement on the matter. A tactic that worked. “Lewis’s arrival will be a great opportunity for the team, we are sure of that. It will bring added value for the future, and I believe it will be a good challenge for everyone. But now we want to focus on 2024, the reason we officially announced his arrival so early was precisely to concentrate on the upcoming season.”
“As for Carlos, I am certain that he will be fully motivated and supported until the last lap of the last race of the season. So far, he has done an excellent job for us, and I am confident that he will continue to do so. As for Lewis, you already know that we have had a good relationship for twenty years, we have always talked to each other, and the negotiation developed step by step.”
Charles mentioned having good feelings in the simulator. Is this impression also confirmed by the technical departments?
“Last season, one of the problems we paid the most for was related to drivability. We focused on this aspect from the beginning of the new project, and I believe a good step forward has been taken. But the definitive answer will only come from the first race in Bahrain.”
Some argue that Ferrari has an excellent pair of drivers for the Constructors’ Championship but not an ideal pair for the Drivers’ title. How do you see it?
“If you analyze the 2023 season, there were moments when Charles performed better and others when Carlos did, overall I think our drivers provided significant support. I am convinced that a team needs two drivers who stimulate each other, and that’s our choice.”
Charles talked about a very particular moment during the Zandvoort weekend, a moment in which good potential was unlocked in the car. Do you share this view?
“Yes. The growth seen at the end of the season was not only related to the Zandvoort weekend, but that weekend, we sacrificed free practice to conduct tests that were very important. It was a correct decision and one of the reasons that led to the team’s growth in the following weekends.”
What were the goals you indicated to the engineers during the study of the SF24?
“It’s always a compromise. Last year we had ups and downs, we were competitive in qualifying and suffered more in races. I’m not sure it was only due to tire degradation, but I would say more to inconsistency. We focused on drivability, and I think we have taken a step forward.”
How were the negotiations that led to the renewal with Charles?
“Everything was very straightforward. Charles has been part of the Ferrari family for many years now, and we know each other well. We have a good relationship, it was an easy and direct decision, also because we know Charles’s capabilities well.”
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Do you believe you have everything you need to fight for a world title, or is it still a project in evolution?
“If you start being happy with what you have, you’re dead. It is essential to have a mindset focused on progressive improvement and always work on your weaknesses. We have several people who are starting to join the team during this period, day by day, I believe we are strengthening, making progress. But don’t expect me to say tomorrow that we’re there, that I’m happy with the situation. If you start having this kind of approach, I think it’s the beginning of the end.”
Is there a particular emotion in being on the eve of your first full season with Ferrari?
“I think one aspect needs to be clarified. The car has been developed under my presence, but we’re talking about a project that involves over a thousand people; it’s certainly not the result of the work of a single individual. I am sure that the weight of the group is much higher than any single person, and I believe that every Ferrari employee contributes to the performance. I am trying to convey this message every day; it’s not the product of Fred Vasseur, Enrico Cardile, or anyone else; it’s a project born from the group.”
Will you be satisfied if Ferrari manages to win a few races? Or do you think the goal should be to challenge Red Bull for the championship?
“I believe that if we can win some races, then we can also be in a good position in the standings; for me, the two things are connected.”
Diego Ioverno has confirmed that there will be a particular effort on race management and improving communication…
“Sometimes we have experienced as great dramas problems that could be solved with small reactions. But if we look at last season, between the start and the end of the championship, I think we made a decent step forward. We also took a few more risks in managing the weekend, and surely communication within the team has improved enormously.”
Do you think the relationship between Carlos and Charles will remain good?
“So far, they have always had a good relationship. I don’t ask them to be the best friends in the world and go on vacation together, but to work in the interest of Ferrari, in the right way and with the right mindset. Last year, their work was very good, and I believe it’s thanks to this kind of relationship that we managed to close the gap we had in the standings.”
How did Carlos take the news that he will no longer be part of Ferrari’s future? What makes you believe that the news of his departure will not affect his on-track performance?
“As you can imagine, it was not the easiest phone call of my life but a difficult moment, as I believe it was also for Toto (Fred laughs…). But I am firmly convinced that Carlos is a very professional driver; he knows well that we have a long season ahead of us, and it’s a great opportunity. We had a long discussion, as you can imagine, and I will fully support Carlos; we still have a lot of work to do together.”
Having two very fast drivers can be an added value in trying to put pressure on Red Bull?
“Yes, we have always had a clear strategy to give exactly the same opportunities to our drivers. We need this to allow the team to improve and recover, and I trust them. If at some point in the season, we find ourselves in the fight for the championship, we will probably change our approach, but so far, we are able to give them exactly the same support.”
From the data you have seen, are you happy with the progress?
“Only Bahrain will tell us where we are; it’s not so much a question of being happy with the development you have made because if you gain two seconds and the opponents improve by three, well, you look stupid. Judgment is always based on direct comparison with competitors. I can say that so far, from what we have seen in the simulator, we should have solved most of the problems we had, but again, we’ll see in Bahrain if everything is in place as we hope.”
Was there a moment when you thought that the chance to have Lewis would be a bit unfair to Carlos?
“I don’t know if ‘unfair’ is the correct word because I think that for the team, the opportunity to have a driver like Lewis is something to consider in any case. We are talking about a champion with great experience, and it is a great opportunity to have him with us. Carlos has done an excellent job, and I am sure he will continue to do so; he is very professional, and we have a great personal relationship. But these are choices made for the future.”
What do you expect from the first race weekend in Bahrain?
“The most important aspect in Bahrain will be to confirm that we are heading in the right direction, that we have not lost something along the way after last season. In Abu Dhabi last year, we managed to fight for pole position; we had a good race pace and improved a lot in terms of operations, risk-taking ability, and communication. The most important thing is to continue in the right direction.”
Will 2024 for Ferrari be a transitional season towards other major events starting from 2025?
“No, that’s wrong. 2024 will not be a transition year but an important season. I am completely focused on this; we want to get the best, we want to win races, we want to continue on the path we took in 2023.”
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