Fred Vasseur has no interest in lowering Ferrari’s expectations. Though he is still realistic about the Scuderia’s place in the pecking order, the 55-year-old makes no secret that Red Bull is the next target. Based on the initial running in Albert Park, the SF-24 should be a real threat to Max Verstappen’s RB20.
Leclerc set the fastest time in Friday practice, finishing the 1-hour session with a four-tenth advantage over the reigning Champion. For the first time in 2024, the Italian outfit has set the standard in qualifying and race simulations.
Of course, it is important to avoid getting carried away. Verstappen and Red Bull failed to optimise their set-up on Friday. It would be unwise to expect similar issues to repeat themselves at the sharp end of the weekend.
Red Bull also used a lower engine mode in Friday Practice, a habit they have maintained for some time. After spending this evening problem-solving with engineers, Verstappen will have the tools ready to extend his winning streak.
Still, Ferrari are the closest they have been to upsetting Red Bull since last year’s Vegas GP.
VASSEUR: FERRARI HAVE GAINED ON RED BULL
When asked if he feels Ferrari are closer to the reigning Champions, Fred Vasseur was eager to praise his personnel:
“It’s not the feeling. Last year in Jeddah, in the race, we were something like one second off.
“And this season, we are perhaps four tenths [behind]. For sure, we are much closer to Red Bull than one year ago, but we are still behind.
“The business is to be first, it’s not to be second and not too far away. For sure, we are in the right direction. We have to continue to develop, but we are still behind.”
The French team principal deserves credit for stabilising a team which was on the defensive twelve months ago. In the early stages of 2024, the Italian squad has enjoyed a level of certainty about how their car will behave.
Not only is this essential for long-term development, but it means each weekend can be better optimised.
Both Sainz and Leclerc have given positive feedback about the SF-24’s characteristics so far. This speaks to Ferrari’s wind tunnel data correlating accurately to the track.
With a major upgrade package set to arrive in Imola, the next few rounds are about strengthening their foundations. As Vassuer stressed, this is all in an effort to catch and surpass Red Bull.
