Ferrari failed to improve their qualifying positions in Spain, only managing P5 and P6. Fred Vasseur has assessed a hectic but ultimately disappointing race for the Scuderia. Once again, Ferrari lost out to their immediate rivals – Verstappen, Norris and both Mercedes. The team’s optimism quickly vanished, with Vasseur already looking ahead to Austria.
VASSEUR: “WE HAVE TO WORK BETTER ON SATURDAYS, SPIELBERG WILL BE BETTER FOR US”
After the race, Leclerc showed his discontent towards Sainz on team radio. Leclerc also expressed his frustration to the media post-race. However, Fred Vasseur does not believe their teammate scrap was costly:
“I think he [Leclerc] complained because he lost half a second or a second at a time rather than for damage that we didn’t see from the data. But we can find ten other moments where he lost a second during the race.
“It was a small contact, but we didn’t lose anything at that stage of the race. I don’t think so, we were fifth and sixth.”
Instead, the French team principal focused on other issues:
“With the strategy, we found ourselves behind some cars and lost a few seconds, and in the end, we were one lap away from catching Russell. But we started fifth and sixth and finished fifth and sixth, for me the bottom line is that we have to do a better job on Saturday .”
There was a consistent gap between the RB20 and SF-24 in Spain, both in qualifying and race day:
“Yesterday there was a difference of two tenths or two and a half tenths in Qualifying, and today we had almost the same gap. The important thing is to be on pace on Saturday because, in Qualifying, you have to take this small step forward.
“We have to do it because when you start from behind, it is difficult to overtake, and you have to take risks with the strategy. And as you have seen, the top 6 arrived in the same positions as on Saturday.”
Ferrari continues to struggle on Saturdays, though their race pace is also an area to improve. Usually, the Barcelona event gives a rather good picture of the pecking order. Still, the former Sauber boss does not believe Ferrari are fourth-fastest:
“This is the situation in Barcelona, it’s clear. But it wasn’t the situation of two weeks ago in Montreal. I think it will change every weekend,” said Vasseur – immediately setting his sights on Austria.
“We have four teams within two-tenths or two-and-a-half-tenths. And we must keep in mind that positions can always change due to set-up, tyres or temperature.
“Everything will be open in Austria next week with the different format of the Sprint and the characteristics of the track will perhaps be more suitable for us.”
