The Abu Dhabi weekend couldn’t have started worse for Ferrari. Charles Leclerc received a 10-place grid penalty for changing his battery (the third unit of the season), and that’s not all. The SF-24 once again showed significant difficulties in preparing for qualifying laps, as already seen in Las Vegas and Lusail.
At the end of the first two free practice sessions for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Ferrari’s team principal Frédéric Vasseur spoke to Sky Sport Italia to review the first day on track at Yas Marina.
Fred Vasseur, a challenging start…
“We had to change the battery, and this will mean a penalty on Sunday. It’s certainly not the ideal start, but we must maintain the same approach, attack, and see where we are on Sunday evening. It was definitely not a positive start to the weekend; that’s for sure.”
Is winning the Constructors’ title now impossible?
“It’s not impossible, but it’s very difficult. Statistically, it’s extremely challenging, and now, with the penalty, it’s even tougher. But we won’t let this get us down. We’ll keep pushing until the last corner of the last lap with both cars to extract the maximum from what we have and then see where McLaren ends up. However, we must focus on ourselves; it would be a mistake to dwell too much on the rivals.”
It seems that even here in Yas Marina, perfectly warming up the tires is crucial to getting the most out of the Softs. Is that the case?
“Yes, tire preparation is very important here as well. It’s the same story as the last three events for us. If we look at Las Vegas and Qatar, it’s always related to track temperature. It’s very difficult to find the right operating window to use the tires effectively from the start. You must optimize everything from one set of tires to the next, from one session to the next. But the most important lap will be the final one in Q3. So we still have some sets of Softs to try and be ready at the crucial moment. Aside from this, the car’s balance is good, and we’re happy. We just need to prepare well for qualifying laps.”
Are you surprised by McLaren’s performance today?
“I’m not surprised by McLaren’s performance. They’ve been doing very well. Last weekend, they were slightly behind in practice and then recovered. Verstappen, on the other hand, was very strong on Sunday but struggled on Saturday. For us, it was the opposite. When the track changes, you have to adapt, but the window is very small.”
How would you assess Ferrari’s season?
“Overall, so far, it’s been a good season for us. Looking at the wins, poles, and data, we’ve won five races and scored 55% more points than last year. The direction is right. Additionally, we’re in contention for the Constructors’ title, which is a good sign. However, we must stay focused as one race is still left, and it’s the most important. But overall, it’s been a good season. I’m happy with the team; we’ve made progress, and it’s the best way to look toward the future.”
What do you need to improve on the 2025 car?
“We need to improve everything. But if I had to point out one area, I’d say qualifying lap preparation. Today, Charles encountered traffic, which is not ideal for preparing a lap. Carlos missed FP1 and had to intensify his work in the afternoon to catch up. I’m not worried because there’s still a long way to go to Q3.”
Excited to see two Leclercs on track together?
“I think Charles was the most excited. Arthur did a great job all season on the simulator, and it was necessary to give him track time to compare the two cars. We could only do this in FP1, and he did well. Working on the simulator isn’t easy. He made a huge contribution throughout the season.”
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