Throughout 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 predicted to play a number one position. From the 2025 challenge to managing the coexistence of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, Frederic Vasseur addressed quite a few matters 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 Staff Principal remains to be digesting the frustration of Abu Dhabi: “I really feel conflicted as a result of I imagine we made vital progress in comparison with 2023. We improved in each pillar of competitiveness: reliability was higher, methods had been stable, pit stops went nicely, 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 truly outscored them within the ultimate race. What seemingly damage 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 through the season. With 4 groups in competition, 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 most important 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 arduous to persuade him that Ferrari was a legitimate challenge. I believe 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 all the things aligning, however getting in contact was straightforward. We began speaking a yr in the past, and convincing him wasn’t tough.”
Nevertheless, the Staff Principal has no intention of reorganizing the group round Hamilton: “That atmosphere [at Mercedes] labored very nicely initially, however much less so in direction of the tip. We have to discover one of the simplest ways 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 received a world championship. Which means we have to do issues in a different way, with our group, our folks, and our assets.”
Fred Vasseur dismissed skepticism about Lewis Hamilton’s competitiveness: “Ask George Russell after the Abu Dhabi Sunday. Basically, I believe 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 nervous. […] I don’t wish to blame him or Mercedes, however I’m satisfied it wasn’t a simple scenario to handle, and I perceive how difficult it may be when issues aren’t going nicely. However within the ultimate occasions, he carried out very nicely, and I’m not nervous in any respect.”
Coexistence with Charles Leclerc
In 2025, Fred Vasseur will handle two top-tier drivers, in contrast to Pink Bull, which has centered totally on Max Verstappen. Nevertheless, the Frenchman doesn’t envy their scenario: “For me, the judgment isn’t clear-cut. You might 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. No less than for the Constructors’ title, it’s a lot simpler to provide equal consideration to each vehicles, however I believe even for the Drivers’ Championship, this emulation is helpful.”
The Staff Principal drew from his expertise with Leclerc and Sainz: “I’m satisfied that inner competitors is essential for group competitiveness. There have been moments of pressure between Charles and Carlos, like in Monza in 2023 or Las Vegas in 2024, however in the long run, they benefitted the group’s efficiency. […] I’m not notably involved about Charles and Lewis. They’ve nice mutual respect and have been discussing this for months. These are nice issues to take care of, and I imagine the group’s competitiveness may even come from their problem.”
Furthermore, it will be counterproductive to sacrifice Leclerc, who’s turning into more and more full: “I believe 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 proper path.”
Ferrari opens its doorways
The Christmas lunch additionally featured many new faces, notably Deputy Staff 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 needs to maneuver from Pink Bull to Mercedes, they’ll maintain their children in the identical college and don’t should promote their home. Except for gardening go away, you may change groups virtually 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 essential for efficiency. We’re combating for hundredths of a second. Any fraction we will acquire from any space is at all times optimistic.”
Waiting for 2025
One other sizzling matter is the automotive for the brand new yr, a challenge Fred Vasseur hopes to name daring: “Typically you suppose you’re not taking dangers, and later notice simply how dangerous the challenge was. We’re within the fourth yr of those rules and now know the idea nicely. The automotive can be utterly new and may have lower than 1% of the elements from the earlier one. It will likely be a wholly completely different challenge, however this would be the case for everybody.”
To contend for the title, the precedence can be scoring vital factors even in robust 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 believe Max was very efficient at this this yr. Typically he was struggling, however he managed to get well. I believe subsequent yr would be the identical story. The highest groups will develop their vehicles, make progress, and we’ll nonetheless have a four-way combat.”
On this context, Fred Vasseur will make sure the group learns from the expertise of the previous season: “After the preliminary doubles, everybody thought Pink Bull would win. It was an essential lesson: the season may be very lengthy and has ups and downs. You might need sturdy weekends after which drop to seventh or eighth. At sure factors within the season, Max was round sixth or seventh. It’s an excellent lesson to maintain pushing and growing. […] 2025 can be a problem as a result of sooner or later, we’ll should resolve whether or not to remain centered on the season or shift to 2026, which is why beginning on the fallacious foot would make all the things tougher. Regardless of this, we’ll maintain pushing till the final nook of the final race.” – the French supervisor concluded.
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