Ferrari as soon as once more missed out on the rostrum in Bahrain – a end result that appeared inside attain till the Security Automobile nullified the strategic benefit constructed as much as that time. Fred Vasseur defended the choice to suit arduous tyres throughout these moments, somewhat than the softs which turned out to be more practical on George Russell’s Mercedes. The Workforce Principal additionally expressed his help for Lewis Hamilton, acknowledging the difficulties he’s dealing with in adapting to the Ferrari.
The reasoning behind the technique
“We had no selection between the arduous or used smooth below the Security Automobile, no less than from our perspective,” Fred Vasseur defined, placing into context the choice to suit the arduous compound, which later proved underwhelming. “I feel even Russell at one level thought-about it very bold to go for twenty-four laps, however ultimately it paid off. The monitor was a bit cooler and extra rubbered in.” The Workforce Principal additionally defended the staff’s general method to the race: “I feel the preliminary technique was good. Within the first stint we paid the worth, having to stretch it a bit, however then the tempo was actually sturdy and it might have been an ideal race if not for the Security Automobile. However we will’t complain, that’s a part of the sport.”
“With out the Security Automobile, we might have chosen between the smooth and arduous for the ultimate stint, however with the neutralisation and 24 laps remaining, the smooth was now not an choice for us. The entire race was a bit chaotic by way of technique. There are races the place 90% of the grid does precisely the identical factor, and others the place it’s not like that. Antonelli had fitted the softs earlier than the Security Automobile, which means he would have needed to do three stops. We’re nonetheless taking our first steps with these compounds, I feel we’re all nonetheless flying a bit blind. That’s a part of the sport, and I feel McLaren is by far the very best on this.”
Assist for Lewis
Fred Vasseur then turned to Lewis Hamilton’s ongoing adaptation struggles: “I perceive his frustration on Saturday night. If you happen to take a look at the free observe periods, Q1 and Q2, he was at all times a few tenth off Charles. Then in Q3 his first lap was deleted, and within the second he made a mistake. That’s irritating, for each him and us. However on Sunday he fought again effectively to complete fifth. His race tempo was almost on par with the highest three. For me, that was fantastic – he was very aggressive. These days, although, in the event you depart 2 or 3 tenths on the desk in qualifying due to a mistake, you lose 6 or 7 positions.”
The Frenchman urges persistence earlier than judging Lewis Hamilton’s integration at Ferrari: “You don’t substitute 12 years of collaboration in 2 weeks or 2 races. We positively want to enhance, however that applies to everybody within the staff and within the paddock – it’s within the DNA of our sport. It’s good that Lewis has the mindset of wanting to enhance and adapt to the automotive. We’ll work to adapt the automotive to him, however he additionally has to take a step. I feel we’re doing all this in a really constructive means collectively.” – the French supervisor identified on the finish of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
“I favored that he was a bit down on Saturday. If you happen to qualify eighth and say ‘it’s a disgrace’, it means you’re disillusioned – as a result of the entire weekend had been going significantly better. […] I appreciated his response on Saturday. I did my greatest to push him, and on Sunday he was in nice form. We’ll choose up from there subsequent week.”
Waiting for upcoming races
Regardless of encouraging indicators by way of race tempo, Bahrain confirmed the bounds of the SF-25: “If you happen to take a look at the season common, I feel we’re lacking 2, 3 or 4 tenths. We’re missing one thing. We’ve to maintain working. Aerodynamic load is a part of that hole.” The important thing, in line with Fred Vasseur, can be to maintain a stage head: “We have to keep calm. We’ve highs and lows, like everybody. The issue is that for us the highs are increased, and the lows simply as low. If we wish to keep a constant method – as we’ve achieved very effectively over the past 2 years – we’ve got to remain calm and enhance hundredth by hundredth. I’m satisfied we’ll do the identical good work we’ve achieved over the previous 2 years.”
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