Fred Vasseur: “The season isn’t over, it’s just one qualifying and we’re not…read more
Fred Vasseur, Ferrari’s team principal, remains optimistic despite a disappointing qualifying performance in the Australian Grand Prix. Ferrari’s drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, found themselves starting from the fourth row, with Leclerc in seventh and Hamilton in eighth. This outcome was a result of a challenging Q3 session, where the team struggled to match the pace of McLaren, who secured a dominant one-two in qualifying.
McLaren’s success was highlighted by their exceptional performance in the third sector, with both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri clocking strong times in their second qualifying runs. Ferrari, on the other hand, faced a tougher challenge. Leclerc was quick in the early parts of the session, but a mistake on his second run cost him crucial time and allowed rivals like Yuki Tsunoda, Alexander Albon, Max Verstappen, and George Russell to surpass him. Although the gap to McLaren was significant, especially in the final sector, Vasseur believes that the situation might not be as dire as it initially appears.
In his comments to Sky Sport F1, Vasseur stressed that this result should not be seen as a definitive judgment on Ferrari’s potential for the season. He acknowledged that Ferrari’s performance in Q3 was disappointing, but he was quick to point out that they had been competitive in the earlier parts of qualifying, especially in Q1 and Q2, where they were much closer to McLaren. According to Vasseur, the seven-tenths gap to McLaren often seen in qualifying was misleading. He believes the actual difference was closer to one to three-tenths, with the wider gap being largely due to Leclerc’s inability to complete his second lap after his mistake. The team principal also noted that the third sector had been particularly challenging, as both McLaren and Max Verstappen gained significant time there.
Despite the tough start, Vasseur remains hopeful for the race. With no points awarded yet, he emphasized that the qualifying results do not define the entire weekend. Reflecting on Ferrari’s long-run pace during Friday’s practice sessions, Vasseur expressed confidence that the team would be able to recover, even in dry conditions. He also added that, given the circumstances, a chaotic race or a bit of rain could help Ferrari’s chances, as it might level the playing field and provide opportunities for a comeback.
In summary, while the gap in qualifying to McLaren appears substantial, Vasseur’s comments underline that it is still early in the season and that Ferrari’s performance is likely to improve as the weekend progresses. Despite the setback, the team is focused on making up for lost ground and remains optimistic for the race ahead.
