Fred Vasseur meets the Italian media to assess Ferrari’s win in Monaco and upcoming races. Frederic Vasseur met with the media to assess Ferrari's present and future.

A few days after the Monaco weekend, Frederic Vasseur assessed Ferrari’s present and future. The goal remains to push in all areas of the company; every sector must perform at its best, and the results on the track will follow.

Fred Vasseur currently appears to be in a solid position. His embraces with John Elkann in Monaco signal a full mandate, which is necessary to succeed at Maranello. Fred describes the upcoming two-thirds of the season, starting in Montreal, as a tenth-of-a-second battle among Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren, but he avoids discussing specific goals.

Regarding the Adrian Newey situation, Fred Vasseur expressed strong confidence in the technical team, with or without the ‘Genius’. According to the team principal, the Monaco victory will strengthen Charles Leclerc, praised as a team player who can bring the group together even in difficult times.

Leclerc’s win in Monaco seemed like the perfect birthday gift. How realistic do you think the Constructors’ Championship title is?
“As a gift, it was perfect, and I’ll take it! Regarding the question, I believe it would be a mistake to think too far ahead. We have an exciting championship ahead with three teams competing closely, meaning five or six cars capable of fighting for pole positions and race wins. We also know that positions can change quickly, so it’s important to stay focused on the next goal, which is the Canadian Grand Prix.”

In which areas can the team improve in the upcoming races?
“In all areas. If you start thinking you’re in great shape… you’re dead. We need to maintain the same approach and continuously improve, department by department, in every single area, including drivers, the pit wall, everything. Even when you complete a good job, you have to do a better job the following week. Believing that what you’re doing is enough is the beginning of the end.”

Was the Monaco Grand Prix your best day since you started working in Formula 1? Or do you have an even better memory?
“I don’t want to rank the best and worst moments, but I can say that the Monza pole (in 2023) was very exciting for various reasons, including the fact that Charles had several issues in his home race in the past. It was great to see him win, for him and the entire team. Certainly, Monaco was special, but Monza 2023 was very emotional for me. Carlos’s pole made me feel something I hadn’t experienced since I joined Ferrari.”

On Sunday, after Charles’s victory, you mentioned that the team has had a shift in mentality compared to last season, now focusing more on the race rather than qualifying. Can you elaborate on this?
“It’s absolutely true, and I haven’t changed my opinion. Partly, this change is due to last season. By the end of 2023, it was clear that our performance gap with Red Bull was much smaller in qualifying than in race pace. Pole position is very important on tracks like Budapest, Monaco, and Singapore, but last year’s race performance deficit cost us many points.”

“Today, we’re much more focused on race preparation, which is evident from the weekend program that includes a long run in the first practice session. We know this approach somewhat compromises qualifying preparation, but it’s not a change in mentality. It’s a response to what emerged last year.”

Do you think the Monaco success could be a turning point in the season? We saw great celebrations after Leclerc’s win. Do you believe this victory could contribute to greater stability and focus for the rest of the season?
“In terms of focus, I don’t think much changes for the team. Everyone is doing a good job, and we are completely focused. We know what we want to achieve and the path we need to follow to reach this goal. At the same time, I believe the Monaco victory can help Charles increase his self-confidence. He had been waiting for a home race win for several years and had gone a long time without winning. Returning to victory always boosts self-esteem.”

“I can’t say if it could be a turning point, but I believe it will be a significant step forward. That said, we must not change our approach because we had good results in Melbourne and Monaco. We have a plan, we are developing the car, and we know what we need to improve step by step, and this approach must be maintained. Having achieved a good result in Monaco, or a less good one in other weekends, does not change the plans; stability is very important.”

Carlos is going through a particular period. He sees that the car is improving, but it’s hard to be happy considering that he will have to leave the team at the end of the season. How do you see his state of mind?
“I believe Carlos’s approach is the same as it was when we presented the car in February. He is a professional, and his first reaction was: ‘Okay Fred, it’s a tough decision, but let’s push until the last corner of the last lap of the season.’ He is a great professional, totally committed to the work, and I am convinced that his contribution will remain the same until the end of 2024. I am really satisfied with Carlos.”

If you have a competitive car in 2025, do you think there will be difficulties in racing for the Drivers’ Championship with Charles and Lewis potentially taking points from each other?
“I don’t see it that way. I believe there is always a sort of mutual emulation within the team, and I am convinced that you get more points with two drivers rather than with… one and a half. Part of our result today also comes from the good emulation between Carlos and Charles; they push each other. As soon as one of them has a slight drop in performance, the other is ahead, and it has been like this since the beginning of last year. It’s an approach that is really part of the performance, and I am always convinced I want two strong drivers; that’s my point of view.”

Are you talking to Adrian Newey? If so, are you waiting for a response?
“I don’t want to comment on this topic because any answer could be interpreted. The most important thing is team stability, as I said before. I think we are doing a good job in the right direction. The most important thing for me is the stability of the group, much more than individual people, and I add that I am really satisfied with the current situation.”

You know Charles very well. What do you like most about him, and in what areas do you think he can still improve?
“As for Charles, it’s not just about being one of the best drivers, being fast, and being able to take pole positions and wins. What I consider very important for the team is to have a very consistent driver in the approach, capable of supporting the group when everything goes well but also when things don’t go as well.”

“Last year, we went through difficult moments, but the drivers were always beside the team. I believe this is an important characteristic for a driver. We know that during the season there are always highs and lows; we won’t always have weekends like Monaco. When there are difficult moments, it’s important to rely on a positive approach and someone who works for the team, and I think Charles is doing a great job in this aspect.”

Do you think the Barcelona race weekend will be an important test to understand the performance level of Red Bull, McLaren, and Ferrari at this point in the season?
“Barcelona is a good mix of different speed ranges, a very challenging track. But after having raced eight weekends, I think we have a good vision of the different circuit layouts and the various compounds. We have a clear hierarchy, and I don’t think Barcelona will radically change the values in the field, a picture that to me is quite clear.”

Looking to the future, what do you think of the 2026 regulations that will be released in June?
“The main novelty of the new regulations will be the power unit. We are trying to adapt the chassis to the engine characteristics, and on my part, I hope we don’t go too far in this process… I want to be diplomatically correct.”

Returning to the car’s competitiveness this season. You have achieved two victories, in Melbourne and Monaco. Do you think these successes were also related to the characteristics of these two tracks, or do you believe this car can fight for victory on every type of circuit from now on?
“If you look at the last three events, Miami, Imola, Monaco, we went through different layouts and types of asphalt, but in the end, we were all within a tenth of a second. I can’t say we dominated in Monaco, but if you look at the overall picture, McLaren, Red Bull, and us, we are always within a tenth, regardless of track type, compounds, and asphalt. Montreal is a very fast circuit, and we will probably see something different. There are many curbs and high top speed, but I’d say we have a good feeling before Canada.”

What kind of feedback did you get from John Elkann in Monaco?
“I think everyone saw it. The President was under the podium and was more than happy. I saw him very enthusiastic about the situation, and that is very positive feedback for us.”

Are you satisfied with Bryan Bozzi’s first two races as Charles’s track engineer?
“Yes, he completed two very good weekends without mistakes. He was also very direct with Charles during the Monaco race, which was not easy to manage because all the drivers wanted to push, and we were trying to slow them down for strategic reasons. The communication between the pit wall and Charles was very clear and direct, fast and without errors. The technical collaboration with Charles is good, but they have known each other for years. I’d say the work so far has been perfect.”

What would you like to achieve by the end of the season?
“In terms of goals, everything is clear. For me, it’s more about the approach than setting a target. For me, the goal is to improve in every single area of competitiveness. I want to have a better team in every sector, in strategy, pit stops, track work, development. In every single area, we need to push the limits a bit more, and I can say this is the mentality. Then the results will come as a consequence. These are not just words; it’s really my mentality, and I am convinced it is the mentality of everyone in the company. The results will come.”

Last year, the team brought updates to the track more or less every two races. This year, the impression is that you have changed the approach, focusing on more substantial packages. Is that the case?
“No, not really. With the cost cap imposed by the financial regulations, it’s necessary to find a balance. In fact, we bring updates when we have something significant to bring. It’s important to remember that there is a kind of convergence of performance, and consequently, the development rate is much lower than two years ago. This means that every time a team brings an upgrade, and I think it’s the same for us, the gain is smaller than two years ago. It also means that the gains found in the setup are increasingly important, which should not be underestimated.”

“It makes more sense to bring novelties in two or three races, and it also depends on the calendar sequence. When we have three Grand Prix without a week off, it is difficult to produce the necessary stock of spare parts. Then we must consider the sprint weekends, and it’s not always easy to fine-tune the car with just one practice session. This means it’s not just about development and production of parts; you must consider many aspects, including the type of track where you bring the updates. Debuting with an upgrade in Monaco is quite risky, as is doing so in a sprint weekend.”

On Wednesday, you gathered all employees in Maranello to celebrate the Monaco victory. What message did you convey?
“Everyone in the company has a role, and it’s not just about the head of aerodynamics or other key positions. Every single team member is a performance differentiator. I told everyone they are responsible for the results when they are not exceptional, but they are also responsible when we win. They must consider every success as the result of their work.”