Ferrari secured its first podium of the season in Jeddah due to a powerful efficiency by Charles Leclerc. The race tempo of the quantity 16 SF-25 was convincing from begin to end, usually matching the instances set by the McLaren automobiles and Max Verstappen’s Purple Bull.
After the 50 laps and the rostrum ceremony, Ferrari workforce principal Frédéric Vasseur spoke to Sky Sport F1 to touch upon the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix from each angle so far as Ferrari’s weekend was involved.
Immediately Ferrari confirmed glorious race tempo. So the issue lies in qualifying, primarily?
“It’s clear that if we’re not one or two steps additional forward as we speak, it’s due to qualifying, as a result of within the race we had a really aggressive tempo. Charles was very sturdy. He managed the tyres for the primary 10 laps as a result of he was in soiled air and knew he must lengthen the stint. Then on the Arduous he had McLaren’s tempo. However as we’ve stated, we have to enhance in qualifying, be extra constant all through the weekend, and begin from a greater place.”
Is Leclerc at the least partially saving this begin to the season?
“It’s not about saving something, we have to work as a workforce to maintain growing and enhancing. Now we have weak factors and we all know they’re principally in qualifying, as a result of then within the race we’re all the time a bit stronger. Now we have to do a greater job on Saturdays, but it surely’s a workforce effort—it’s not one individual saving the others. We’re all in the identical boat.”
The SF-25 appears to carry out properly in quick sections and wrestle within the sluggish ones. Is that the place you have to enhance?
“I’m undecided that’s the problem, as a result of as we speak we have been very constant in all kinds of corners. Yesterday we struggled quite a bit in turns 1 and a couple of. Immediately as a substitute we have been the quickest. We have to discuss with our drivers to grasp what was performed otherwise in comparison with yesterday. Actually, the tempo was there all through the lap. Additionally, tyre preparation and administration are necessary on the subject of one-lap struggles.”
Is it solely a tyre situation or have you ever discovered one thing within the setup as properly?
“It’s all the time a matter of many elements, it’s by no means only one particular factor. While you’re three tenths behind, it’s not only one factor that’s off, it’s a sequence of things. Efficiency comes from totally different components and we have to seek for each tenth in each space, identical to we did final yr. We have been far off initially of final season too, however then we caught up. This podium will assist push us ahead.”
It’s the second race the place you’ve scored extra factors than everybody—besides McLaren. How far off are you from what you anticipated initially of the season?
“We’re behind McLaren when it comes to factors and it’s fairly a spot. In comparison with Purple Bull and Mercedes, the issue was what occurred in China. However now we stay up for hold working and pushing as a bunch. The outcomes will come.”
Do you continue to consider within the championship?
“I’m serious about Miami. I feel it’s a mistake to give attention to the championship. We have to do what we did final yr—method it race by race to enhance. We all know the automobile has weak spots, it’s clear, we have now to be sincere. We have to make an sincere evaluation. Now we have pretty clear concepts.”
What do you make of Lewis’ race?
“It was more durable for him, ending 30 seconds behind Charles. He struggled in the direction of the tip. He had an honest second stint, however in soiled air he struggled. He’s having too many ups and downs—each him and the workforce. We must be extra constant and do a greater job in FP3 forward of qualifying. I feel that’s the primary situation. Now we have to be on it in each session, not simply within the race or in qualifying.”
Will you go all-in with updates in Miami?
“Miami can be tough as a result of there’ll solely be one observe session. It’ll be a Dash weekend. So we’ll solely have one hour of observe. We’ll most likely convey updates in Imola.”