Through the Christmas lunch in Maranello, all consideration is on Lewis Hamilton, nonetheless absent however nonetheless the primary matter of dialog. That is unsurprising given the unprecedented nature of this transfer in Ferrari and Formulation 1 historical past, on the eve of a season the place the Prancing Horse is anticipated to play a number one position. From the 2025 venture to managing the coexistence of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, Frederic Vasseur addressed quite a few subjects in his ultimate press assembly of the yr.
The near-miss championship
The 2024 Formulation 1 season noticed Ferrari as soon as once more contending for the world championship, however the Workforce Principal remains to be digesting the frustration of Abu Dhabi: “I really feel conflicted as a result of I imagine we made important progress in comparison with 2023. We improved in each pillar of competitiveness: reliability was higher, methods had been stable, pit stops went properly, and efficiency was there. We scored 60% extra factors than the earlier yr, with 5 wins in comparison with one. All indicators are optimistic. The one draw back is ending the season 14 factors behind McLaren.”
“We didn’t lose it in Abu Dhabi. All through the season, McLaren averaged 26–27 factors per weekend, and we really outscored them within the ultimate race. What doubtless damage us extra was the double DNF in Canada or after we struggled between Spain, Austria, and England, shedding round 80–90 factors in 4 races. The rivals additionally had their lows in the course of the season. With 4 groups in rivalry, highs and lows are inevitable. However when, out of over 600 factors, you end up 14 factors behind McLaren on the Sunday night of Abu Dhabi, there’s naturally frustration.”
Lewis Hamilton’s arrival
Fred Vasseur then turned to the foremost matter of the day, revealing the method behind bringing Sir Lewis to Maranello: “In 2023, we received extra races than Mercedes, and the beginning of the season was optimistic. It wasn’t exhausting to persuade him that Ferrari was a legitimate venture. I feel he’s had the concept of driving for Ferrari for a minimum of 22–23 years as a result of we had been already discussing it in 2024. Generally it’s a matter of timing and all the pieces aligning, however getting in contact was simple. We began speaking a yr in the past, and convincing him wasn’t tough.”
Nonetheless, the Workforce Principal has no intention of reorganizing the crew round Hamilton: “That atmosphere [at Mercedes] labored very properly initially, however much less so in the direction of the top. We have to discover the easiest way to handle Lewis. I completely don’t need to copy and paste or attempt to convey Mercedes right here wholesale. Over the previous three years, they haven’t received a world championship. Which means we have to do issues in another way, with our crew, our folks, and our assets.”
Fred Vasseur dismissed skepticism about Lewis Hamilton’s competitiveness: “Ask George Russell after the Abu Dhabi Sunday. On the whole, I feel Lewis had some difficulties in qualifying, however I don’t imagine, as an example, that Abu Dhabi was his fault. He had nice races in Las Vegas after which in Abu Dhabi itself. I’ve by no means been apprehensive. […] I don’t need to blame him or Mercedes, however I’m satisfied it wasn’t a straightforward scenario to handle, and I perceive how difficult it may be when issues aren’t going properly. However within the ultimate occasions, he carried out very properly, and I’m not apprehensive in any respect.”
Coexistence with Charles Leclerc
In 2025, Fred Vasseur will handle two top-tier drivers, in contrast to Purple Bull, which has targeted fully on Max Verstappen. Nonetheless, the Frenchman doesn’t envy their scenario: “For me, the judgment isn’t clear-cut. You possibly can say that placing all assets into one automobile and sacrificing the opposite barely is a bonus. However, I’m satisfied a part of the efficiency of two drivers comes from mutual emulation. At the least for the Constructors’ title, it’s a lot simpler to present equal consideration to each automobiles, however I feel even for the Drivers’ Championship, this emulation is useful.”
The Workforce Principal drew from his expertise with Leclerc and Sainz: “I’m satisfied that inside competitors is essential for crew competitiveness. There have been moments of stress between Charles and Carlos, like in Monza in 2023 or Las Vegas in 2024, however ultimately, they benefitted the crew’s efficiency. […] I’m not significantly involved about Charles and Lewis. They’ve nice mutual respect and have been discussing this for months. These are nice issues to cope with, and I imagine the crew’s competitiveness may also come from their problem.”
Furthermore, it will be counterproductive to sacrifice Leclerc, who’s changing into more and more full: “I feel Charles has improved considerably in race administration, not simply with tires however in his total weekend strategy. In fact, perfection is rarely reached, and we nonetheless want to enhance a bit, however I imagine he’s in higher form now than he was 12 months in the past. We nonetheless have work to do, however he’s on the precise path.”
Ferrari opens its doorways
The Christmas lunch additionally featured many new faces, significantly Deputy Workforce Principal Jérôme d’Ambrosio and new Technical Director Loïc Serra. They’re the primary hires promoted by Fred Vasseur to assist Ferrari break away from its isolation lately: “Within the UK, there are seven groups inside a 50-kilometer radius, barely extra for McLaren. If somebody desires to maneuver from Purple Bull to Mercedes, they will hold their children in the identical faculty and don’t should promote their home. Apart from gardening go away, you may swap groups nearly in a single day. This isn’t potential for Ferrari.”
“It’s a scenario with execs and cons, however we shouldn’t shut the door to different groups. A part of efficiency comes from information switch and these sorts of exchanges. This has nothing to do with nationality however extra with work tradition and studying from what others do. We’ve employed many individuals from different groups, and extra insights will include Hamilton, who brings expertise from Mercedes. That is necessary for efficiency. We’re combating for hundredths of a second. Any fraction we are able to achieve from any space is at all times optimistic.”
Waiting for 2025
One other scorching matter is the automobile for the brand new yr, a venture Fred Vasseur hopes to name daring: “Generally you assume you’re not taking dangers, and later notice simply how dangerous the venture was. We’re within the fourth yr of those laws and now know the idea properly. The automobile shall be fully new and can have lower than 1% of the parts from the earlier one. It is going to be a completely completely different venture, however this would be the case for everybody.”
To contend for the title, the precedence shall be scoring important factors even in robust moments: “It’s in all probability simpler to win once you’re aggressive than to attain factors once you’re in the back of the main pack. I feel Max was very efficient at this this yr. Generally he was struggling, however he managed to get well. I feel subsequent yr would be the identical story. The highest groups will develop their automobiles, make progress, and we’ll nonetheless have a four-way combat.”
On this context, Fred Vasseur will make sure the crew learns from the expertise of the previous season: “After the preliminary doubles, everybody thought Purple Bull would win. It was an necessary lesson: the season may be very lengthy and has ups and downs. You might need robust weekends after which drop to seventh or eighth. At sure factors within the season, Max was round sixth or seventh. It’s lesson to maintain pushing and creating. […] 2025 shall be a problem as a result of in some unspecified time in the future, we’ll should determine whether or not to remain targeted on the season or shift to 2026, which is why beginning on the incorrect foot would make all the pieces tougher. Regardless of this, we’ll hold pushing till the final nook of the final race.” – the French supervisor concluded.
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