Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur believes the Scuderia has a genuine opportunity to fight for a strong result in the British Grand Prix, with strategy likely to play a decisive role against the pace of Mercedes.
Charles Leclerc’s turnaround gives Ferrari hope
After several difficult weeks marked by inconsistent performances and a lack of confidence behind the wheel, Charles Leclerc decided to make what he described as a “radical change” ahead of qualifying for the British Grand Prix. The gamble appeared to pay off, as the Monegasque secured second place on the grid, finishing less than two tenths behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s outstanding pole position lap.
Charles Leclerc climbed out of the car with a smile on his face after rediscovering the feeling he had been searching for, and Vasseur admitted he was delighted to see his driver back at the front of the field.
“I’m very happy for him. He was under pressure, and it wasn’t easy to work calmly under those circumstances,” Vasseur told Sky Sport F1.
Ferrari’s strategy against Mercedes
Although Mercedes appears to hold an advantage in outright pace, Fred Vasseur believes Ferrari’s strongest weapon could be its strategic flexibility, particularly with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton starting near the front.
“Our pace was decent compared to Mercedes, but I don’t know if we’ll be able to fight them because they have a clear advantage in top speed. We’ll rely on strategy. There will be pit stops, and we’ll have to decide whether to extend our stints or not. Having two cars at the front also allows us to vary our tactics.”
Energy management could decide the race
The Ferrari boss was also encouraged by the progress the team has made in recent races, especially considering the pessimistic predictions that surrounded the Scuderia before the Silverstone weekend.
“First we scored a podium with Lewis, and now we have a front-row start. We haven’t had to make compromises—we’re simply improving, just like everyone else. We’ve worked on both qualifying pace and race pace because overtaking won’t be easy here.”
Vasseur also highlighted energy deployment as one of the key factors that could influence the outcome of the British Grand Prix.
“Energy management will make a difference. During the Sprint, some drivers deployed their energy on one straight, while others chose a different section of the circuit. We’ve changed something since last week because it’s not only about having power, but also about how you deploy it. Silverstone has slow corners after the straights, and that’s where the chassis really makes the difference.”
Fred Vasseur therefore remains optimistic about Ferrari’s potential in the British Grand Prix, emphasizing that strategic flexibility will be vital to challenging Mercedes. With a front-row start, the team is well-prepared to execute a race-winning strategy that focuses on tire management and superior chassis performance.
With Charles Leclerc lining up on the front row and Lewis Hamilton starting just behind, Ferrari hopes that a combination of strategy, energy management and strong chassis performance can give the Scuderia a genuine chance of challenging Mercedes at Silverstone.
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