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 Method 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 remaining press assembly of the yr.
The near-miss championship
The 2024 Method 1 season noticed Ferrari as soon as once more contending for the world championship, however the Group Principal continues to be digesting the frustration of Abu Dhabi: “I really feel conflicted as a result of I consider we made important progress in comparison with 2023. We improved in each pillar of competitiveness: reliability was higher, methods have been strong, pit stops went properly, and efficiency was there. We scored 60% extra factors than the earlier yr, with 5 wins in comparison with one. All indicators are constructive. 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 remaining race. What possible 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 constructive. It wasn’t laborious to persuade him that Ferrari was a legitimate venture. I believe he’s had the thought of driving for Ferrari for no less than 22–23 years as a result of we have been already discussing it in 2024. Generally 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 Group Principal has no intention of reorganizing the group round Hamilton: “That setting [at Mercedes] labored very properly initially, however much less so in the direction of the tip. We have to discover one of the best ways to handle Lewis. I completely don’t wish to copy and paste or attempt to convey Mercedes right here wholesale. Over the previous three years, they haven’t received a world championship. Which means we have to do issues otherwise, with our group, our individuals, and our sources.”
Fred Vasseur dismissed skepticism about Lewis Hamilton’s competitiveness: “Ask George Russell after the Abu Dhabi Sunday. Generally, I believe Lewis had some difficulties in qualifying, however I don’t consider, 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 fearful. […] 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 remaining occasions, he carried out very properly, and I’m not fearful in any respect.”
Coexistence with Charles Leclerc
In 2025, Fred Vasseur will handle two top-tier drivers, not like Crimson Bull, which has targeted totally on Max Verstappen. Nevertheless, the Frenchman doesn’t envy their state of affairs: “For me, the judgment isn’t clear-cut. You would say that placing all sources into one automobile 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 very least for the Constructors’ title, it’s a lot simpler to offer equal consideration to each automobiles, however I believe even for the Drivers’ Championship, this emulation is useful.”
The Group 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 stress between Charles and Carlos, like in Monza in 2023 or Las Vegas in 2024, however ultimately, they benefitted the group’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 consider the group’s competitiveness may even come from their problem.”
Furthermore, it could be counterproductive to sacrifice Leclerc, who’s changing 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 consider 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, significantly Deputy Group 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 desires to maneuver from Crimson Bull to Mercedes, they’ll hold their children in the identical faculty and don’t need to promote their home. Other than gardening go away, you possibly can swap groups virtually in a single day. This isn’t attainable for Ferrari.”
“It’s a state of affairs with professionals 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 necessary for efficiency. We’re combating for hundredths of a second. Any fraction we will acquire from any space is all the time constructive.”
Waiting for 2025
One other sizzling matter is the automobile for the brand new yr, a venture Fred Vasseur hopes to name daring: “Generally you suppose you’re not taking dangers, and later understand simply how dangerous the venture was. We’re within the fourth yr of those laws and now know the idea properly. The automobile might be fully new and could have lower than 1% of the parts from the earlier one. It will likely be a completely totally different venture, however this would be the case for everybody.”
To contend for the title, the precedence might be scoring important factors even in powerful moments: “It’s in all probability simpler to win once you’re aggressive than to attain factors once you’re in the back of the main pack. I believe Max was very efficient at this this yr. Generally he was struggling, however he managed to recuperate. I believe subsequent yr would be the similar story. The highest groups will develop their automobiles, make progress, and we’ll nonetheless have a four-way struggle.”
On this context, Fred Vasseur will make sure the group learns from the expertise of the previous season: “After the preliminary doubles, everybody thought Crimson Bull would win. It was an necessary 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 a great lesson to maintain pushing and growing. […] 2025 might be a problem as a result of in some unspecified time in the future, we’ll need to resolve whether or not to remain targeted on the season or shift to 2026, which is why beginning on the mistaken foot would make all the things tougher. Regardless of this, we’ll hold pushing till the final nook of the final race.” – the French supervisor concluded.
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