In Barcelona, Ferrari secured its third podium of the season, a consequence that earns them second place within the Constructors’ Championship, forward of Mercedes and Pink Bull. Within the conventional post-race press convention, Frederic Vasseur acknowledged the group’s progress when it comes to efficiency and outcomes, however made it clear that second place isn’t sufficient. The Group Principal set his sights on McLaren, with restoration efforts to incorporate automotive updates.
Might Progress and the Technical Directive
Fred Vasseur was one of the vital vocal concerning the technical directive, suggesting it might be a turning level within the season. The crackdown on versatile wings hasn’t altered the pecking order on observe, however the Frenchman clarified: “Even when the gaps shift by only a tenth, that may nonetheless make an enormous distinction when it comes to outcomes—though not towards McLaren, who’re two or three tenths forward. In case you have a look at the race round lap 40, we have been 5 seconds behind Norris. Which means our tempo was clearly higher in comparison with three or 4 races in the past, like in Miami, the place we have been lapped.”
“I’m not saying it’s due to the entrance wing, however each race paints a unique image. I believe all of us face the identical challenges in totally understanding the tyres. I imagine that may make extra of a distinction than the wing itself. Nonetheless, even when it’s not the principle efficiency differentiator, we have to take it under consideration, as a result of these days a tenth can fully reshuffle the grid.” – he added.
With reference to tyres, the Scuderia has proven progress in tyre utilization throughout qualifying, however Fred Vasseur preached warning: “With tyres, that you must be humble; each weekend begins from a clean sheet. Canada can be a unique story. The asphalt can be completely different, it’ll be colder, and the corners can be completely different. We shouldn’t assume that what we’ve understood right here in Barcelona will apply in two weeks’ time.”
Lewis’s Disappointment and Charles’s Gamble
The Group Principal was then requested about Lewis Hamilton’s seen frustration after the race: “There’s no want to show this into an argument. I believe Lewis spent about 70% of the race forward of Russell, and I’m unsure George mentioned the race was a catastrophe. Plus, we had an issue on the automotive within the closing stint earlier than the Security Automobile.” Fred Vasseur revealed that Charles Leclerc additionally suffered from a technical challenge—although a unique one—which partly explains the ten seconds misplaced to the McLaren automobiles after the restart.
The Monegasque driver celebrated the rostrum after skipping a second qualifying try to save lots of a recent set of tyres for the race—a raffle Fred Vasseur finds exhausting to guage as a hit or not: “As we speak we had three units of recent tyres, and that most likely helped us stick with the McLarens firstly. We overtook two of the three automobiles forward of us, and from there the tempo was good. Whenever you make this sort of gamble, you possibly can’t solely take the positives. You don’t get to have new tyres within the race with out paying a worth in qualifying. Generally you lose nothing over a tenth, different occasions it prices you two or three grid spots—and that’s what occurred on Saturday.”
Eyes on McLaren
Total, Fred Vasseur expressed reduction about second place within the Constructors’ standings, however not satisfaction: “I want being second to being fourth or fifth. After the double disqualification in China, we have been 50 or 60 factors behind Mercedes and Pink Bull, and now we’re forward. I believe we’ve carried out job during the last 4 or 5 races, however now we have to recollect we’re right here to win. We don’t need to be second—we have to deal with McLaren. I’m not speaking concerning the championship, however about efficiency. I believe within the first 40 laps right here we weren’t too far behind. Which means we have to maintain pushing in the identical route to win races.” – the French supervisor identified on the finish of the Spanish Grand Prix.
The restoration may even depend on updates, which transcend what’s seen: “We’re persevering with to push improvement on the automotive. Generally the upgrades are seen, typically now we have to declare them to the FIA, different occasions not.”
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