Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur believes the trajectory at Maranello is positive. The F1 Championship is heating up, partly thanks to the upgrades introduced to the SF-24. Leclerc and Sainz have both secured victories this year, with the RB20 losing the advantage it had in Bahrain. This weekend in Canada is another critical data point to confirm Maranello’s progress.
Winning in Monaco is a huge milestone for any driver. Monte Carlo is an especially important venue for Charles Leclerc, who was born and raised near the Principality.
Still, from a purely objective perspective, victory at such a specific circuit is difficult to extrapolate as a reference for the whole season. There are hardly any tracks that share such an extreme low-speed configuration.
This means that Canada, whilst still featuring plenty of low-speed corners, can give Ferrari a clearer image of where the ‘2.0’ version of the SF-24 stands.
VASSEUR: FERRARI MUST LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED
Looking ahead to this weekend, Fred Vasseur has outlined the mindset within the team:
“Earlier this season, we went to Japan on a wave of enthusiasm following Carlos’ win in Australia and now we have that same feeling in Canada off the back of Charles’ triumph in his home race in Monaco.
“Everyone is pumped and prepared to the maximum for this Grand Prix. The Montreal track is very different to the one in the Principality, even if there are still some slow corners.
“But in general, it’s much faster, requires less aerodynamic downforce and there are more opportunities for overtaking. That doesn’t mean our approach to the weekend will change in any way.
“We are moving in the right direction on the technical front, on our strategy calls from the pit wall and in terms of how the team is working as one.
“Thanks to a lot of hard work, we have managed to further close the gap to the team leading both championships, but the gaps between us, McLaren and Red Bull, are very close and, so the slightest little detail can make the difference.”
The Gilles Villeneuve circuit’s layout is only one of its defining features. The Canadian venue is typically very bumpy, although resurfacing before this year’s race could make a difference.
Regardless, the bumps in Canada should play a role. The evidence suggests this is an area where Red Bull suffers and, in relative terms, Ferrari benefits.
Kerbs are also in plentiful supply, which could heighten the pressure on Christian Horner’s team. However, with McLaren firmly in the mix, there are plenty of adversaries for Fred Vasseur’s personnel to overcome.
