Through the Christmas lunch in Maranello, all consideration is on Lewis Hamilton, nonetheless absent however nonetheless the principle subject of dialog. That is unsurprising given the unprecedented nature of this transfer in Ferrari and Components 1 historical past, on the eve of a season the place the Prancing Horse is predicted 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 matters in his last press assembly of the 12 months.
The near-miss championship
The 2024 Components 1 season noticed Ferrari as soon as once more contending for the world championship, however the Workforce Principal continues 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 12 months, 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 truly outscored them within the last race. What possible harm us extra was the double DNF in Canada or after we struggled between Spain, Austria, and England, dropping round 80–90 factors in 4 races. The rivals additionally had their lows throughout 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 subject of the day, revealing the method behind bringing Sir Lewis to Maranello: “In 2023, we gained extra races than Mercedes, and the beginning of the season was optimistic. It wasn’t onerous to persuade him that Ferrari was a sound venture. I feel he’s had the thought of driving for Ferrari for at the very least 22–23 years as a result of we had been already discussing it in 2024. Typically it’s a matter of timing and every little thing aligning, however getting in contact was straightforward. We began speaking a 12 months in the past, and convincing him wasn’t tough.”
Nevertheless, the Workforce Principal has no intention of reorganizing the crew round Hamilton: “That setting [at Mercedes] labored very properly initially, however much less so in the direction of the tip. We have to discover the easiest way to handle Lewis. I completely don’t wish to copy and paste or attempt to deliver Mercedes right here wholesale. Over the previous three years, they haven’t gained a world championship. Which means we have to do issues in another way, with our crew, our individuals, and our assets.”
Fred Vasseur dismissed skepticism about Lewis Hamilton’s competitiveness: “Ask George Russell after the Abu Dhabi Sunday. Typically, I feel Lewis had some difficulties in qualifying, however I don’t imagine, as an illustration, 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 anxious. […] I don’t wish to blame him or Mercedes, however I’m satisfied it wasn’t a straightforward state of affairs to handle, and I perceive how difficult it may be when issues aren’t going properly. However within the last occasions, he carried out very properly, and I’m not anxious in any respect.”
Coexistence with Charles Leclerc
In 2025, Fred Vasseur will handle two top-tier drivers, not like Purple Bull, which has targeted completely on Max Verstappen. Nevertheless, the Frenchman doesn’t envy their state of affairs: “For me, the judgment isn’t clear-cut. You could possibly say that placing all assets into one automotive and sacrificing the opposite barely is a bonus. Then again, 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 vehicles, however I feel even for the Drivers’ Championship, this emulation is helpful.”
The Workforce Principal drew from his expertise with Leclerc and Sainz: “I’m satisfied that inner competitors is essential for crew competitiveness. There have been moments of pressure 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 can even come from their problem.”
Furthermore, it could 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 general weekend method. In fact, perfection isn’t 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 appropriate 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 in recent times: “Within the UK, there are seven groups inside a 50-kilometer radius, barely extra for McLaren. If somebody needs to maneuver from Purple Bull to Mercedes, they will maintain their children in the identical faculty and don’t need to promote their home. Except for gardening go away, you possibly can change groups nearly in a single day. This isn’t doable for Ferrari.”
“It’s a state of affairs with execs and cons, however we shouldn’t shut the door to different groups. A part of efficiency comes from data 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 acquire from any space is all the time optimistic.”
Waiting for 2025
One other sizzling subject is the automotive for the brand new 12 months, a venture Fred Vasseur hopes to name daring: “Typically you assume you’re not taking dangers, and later understand simply how dangerous the venture was. We’re within the fourth 12 months of those laws and now know the idea properly. The automotive shall be utterly new and may have lower than 1% of the elements from the earlier one. It is going to be a wholly 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 powerful moments: “It’s most likely simpler to win if you’re aggressive than to attain factors if you’re in the back of the main pack. I feel Max was very efficient at this this 12 months. Typically he was struggling, however he managed to get well. I feel subsequent 12 months would be the identical story. The highest groups will develop their vehicles, make progress, and we’ll nonetheless have a four-way struggle.”
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 may 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 sooner or later, we’ll need to determine whether or not to remain targeted on the season or shift to 2026, which is why beginning on the fallacious foot would make every little thing tougher. Regardless of this, we’ll maintain pushing till the final nook of the final race.” – the French supervisor concluded.
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