Bitterness lingers. That’s the prevailing mood inside the Ferrari garage after what happened at Yas Marina. Ferrari lost out to McLaren in the fight for the Constructors’ Championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island.
The Maranello team came close to achieving the maximum, ending the season with a double podium despite Charles Leclerc starting from 19th place. Ultimately, Ferrari finished 14 points behind McLaren, leaving a bitter taste for the team and its fans.
Fred Vasseur: Disappointed but optimistic
At the end of the Abu Dhabi GP, Fred Vasseur reflected on Ferrari’s defeat in the Constructors’ Championship battle won by McLaren. “We are disappointed, even though we did our best today,” said the Team Principal. “We lost the title by 14 points, so we’re not far off. We’re satisfied with the improvements and how we responded to difficulties.”
“I must congratulate McLaren. They did an exceptional job, and I have great respect for them,” Fred Vasseur added. “We must recognize that we have significant room for improvement, and for that, I give the season a six. I’m proud of how we responded to challenges and worked to find solutions. After Silverstone, we understood something was wrong, and we all got to work without thinking about anything else.”
“There’s frustration; it couldn’t be otherwise. I’m convinced it was a solid season, and I’m sure the new additions will give us a significant boost,” Fred Vasseur concluded.