Fred Vasseur explains the decisions made in China and shares some concerns about the gap between Ferrari and Mercedes.
Ferrari closed the Chinese Grand Prix with a solid performance, securing third and fourth place behind Mercedes, and for this, Fred Vasseur was quite satisfied with the weekend. Although victory was not within Maranello’s reach, the final result was still positive.
However, the Scuderia team principal admitted that the squad took a risk by allowing both drivers to battle freely on track. Despite the spectacular show for the fans, Ferrari feared a disaster if the internal fight got out of control, with the real danger of a double retirement looming.
During the race, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc clashed multiple times for position, exchanging places on several occasions as they tried to seize first second and then third place. In the end, the British champion came out on top in the intra-team battle, securing his first podium with Ferrari. Despite initial concerns, Fred Vasseur explained that the team chose to trust its drivers, giving them the freedom to race. According to the Frenchman, the battle also boosted the team’s morale.
Ferrari was nevertheless forced to settle for positions behind Mercedes, as it became evident during the race that it could not match the W17 pace. Hamilton got off to a strong start, overtaking both Antonelli and Russell in the opening laps. As the laps progressed, however, the Silver Arrows increased the pace, leaving Ferrari to focus mostly on its internal battle. This raises a small concern for the Scuderia, which still seems to be searching for a way to close the gap with Mercedes.
Vasseur and Ferrari’s internal battle
“I have enormous respect for both of them,” Fred Vasseur said at the end of the Chinese GP, speaking about Ferrari’s internal fight on track. “They are professionals, and I think in this situation it makes sense to let them race. I have confidence in both, and I didn’t want to ask them to freeze positions because that would have been unfair.”
“I know very well that we could have ended up embarrassing ourselves half an hour later, but in the end, it’s also the best way to build a team. We need these kinds of situations within the team to improve, as long as they are handled like today. They even told us over the radio that they enjoyed themselves a couple of times, so I didn’t want to freeze positions,” the team principal added.
Leclerc and Hamilton on their battle
Lewis Hamilton was the one who “triumphed” in the fight with Leclerc, taking third place and his first podium as a Ferrari driver.
“The final battle with Charles was fantastic,” the Briton commented after the race. “A thrilling wheel-to-wheel duel, very clean, and exactly what we wanted.”
“I think there was a moment when we touched, but it was minor, just a kiss, so it’s fine. But that’s the point. These are hard races.”
Despite missing the podium, the Monegasque was satisfied with his fourth-place finish in Shanghai.
“I actually really enjoyed the race,” explained the 28-year-old. “I am obviously a little disappointed not to have made the podium, but on the other hand, I am happy for Lewis. I think he deserved it more than me this weekend, as he was in better form and stronger from FP1 until today. But it was a very enjoyable race, and I loved the duel.”
“The only big negative, in my opinion, is the gap to Mercedes. On a day like this, it’s clear that they are a step ahead of everyone, so we have to work hard,” Leclerc continued.
Vasseur’s concern
As Charles Leclerc hinted, Fred Vasseur also expressed concerns about the gap between Ferrari and Mercedes, which was even more evident in China. The Scuderia had to settle for third and fourth once it became clear they could not keep up with the W17s.
Hamilton managed to take the lead in the early stages, starting from the second row and overtaking both Antonelli and Russell. As the laps went by, however, the Silver Arrows increased their pace while Ferrari began to lose ground, turning the challenge into an internal team battle that ultimately benefited the competition.
“At the beginning, we were fighting with Mercedes. But as long as we were within a second and could have that extra advantage, we managed to keep the pace. But as soon as a one-second gap opens, it becomes much more difficult,” the Ferrari team principal noted.
“Perhaps in the first laps we push a little more than them, and then after the first 10 laps of each stint, we return to the four or five tenths per lap advantage they have.”
“Behind us, at a certain point, there were Oliver Bearman or Pierre Gasly who were quite distant, and in that case, the situation could have been managed a bit better,” he concluded.
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