The Italian team has emerged as the primary challenger to Red Bull this season, yet it has been unable to prevent Max Verstappen from securing pole position and victories in the opening two races.
While it’s evident that Ferrari must unlock significant performance improvements to truly challenge the reigning champions, Team Principal Fred Vasseur believes this goal is achievable. Unlike last year, where any upgrades would have been futile due to the large performance gap, Ferrari now finds itself in a different scenario.
Assessing the situation after the initial races, Vasseur stated, “I don’t want to sound pessimistic, as it was a good weekend and we should remain optimistic and relish these moments.
However, it’s clear that Red Bull remains ahead of us. In qualifying, they hold perhaps a two/three tenths advantage, and in the race, it’s slightly more. It’s hard to gauge as we don’t know if they were running at their maximum.”
He continued, “But the feeling is more positive now. Closing this gap means applying pressure on them. When we were a second behind, it was futile, but now with a good start, we can be competitive. In Jeddah, it was relatively easy for them to overtake due to their superior top speed, but there will be other opportunities for us.”
Ferrari has a comprehensive upgrade plan in place to enhance the performance of its SF-24, and Vasseur is encouraged by the team’s solid foundation for development, without the need to address major car issues.
“I’m not fixated on the championship standings, but we’ve accumulated around 49 points compared to 26 at the same stage last year. A strong start is crucial. Additionally, the car is more driver-friendly now, which aids development. It’s easier for the drivers to interpret its behavior, facilitating improvements,” he explained.
Addressing the previous year’s tire degradation concerns, Ferrari believes it has made progress and is now focused on bringing additional performance to the car.
“The performance enhancements come from various areas, not just one major upgrade. To catch up, we must improve across the board. This was our approach last year, and it proved fruitful. Aero plays a significant role, and while upgrades are in the pipeline, the key is to implement upgrades that integrate seamlessly with the car,” Vasseur emphasized.
Ferrari remains committed to its development strategy, aiming to continue its upward trajectory in performance and competitiveness throughout the season.