Ferrari as soon as once more missed out on the rostrum in Bahrain – a outcome that appeared inside attain till the Security Automotive nullified the strategic benefit constructed as much as that time. Fred Vasseur defended the choice to suit onerous tyres throughout these moments, moderately than the softs which turned out to be more practical on George Russell’s Mercedes. The Crew Principal additionally expressed his help for Lewis Hamilton, acknowledging the difficulties he’s dealing with in adapting to the Ferrari.
The reasoning behind the technique
“We had no alternative between the onerous or used mushy beneath the Security Automotive, at the least from our perspective,” Fred Vasseur defined, placing into context the choice to suit the onerous compound, which later proved underwhelming. “I feel even Russell at one level thought of it very formidable to go for twenty-four laps, however ultimately it paid off. The observe was a bit cooler and extra rubbered in.” The Crew Principal additionally defended the staff’s general strategy to the race: “I feel the preliminary technique was good. Within the first stint we paid the value, having to stretch it a bit, however then the tempo was actually robust and it may have been an awesome race if not for the Security Automotive. However we will’t complain, that’s a part of the sport.”
“With out the Security Automotive, we may have chosen between the mushy and onerous for the ultimate stint, however with the neutralisation and 24 laps remaining, the mushy was not an choice for us. The entire race was a bit chaotic by way of technique. There are races the place 90% of the grid does precisely the identical factor, and others the place it’s not like that. Antonelli had fitted the softs earlier than the Security Automotive, which means he would have needed to do three stops. We’re nonetheless taking our first steps with these compounds, I feel we’re all nonetheless flying a bit blind. That’s a part of the sport, and I feel McLaren is by far one of the best on this.”
Help for Lewis
Fred Vasseur then turned to Lewis Hamilton’s ongoing adaptation struggles: “I perceive his frustration on Saturday night. When you take a look at the free apply periods, Q1 and Q2, he was at all times a few tenth off Charles. Then in Q3 his first lap was deleted, and within the second he made a mistake. That’s irritating, for each him and us. However on Sunday he fought again nicely to complete fifth. His race tempo was almost on par with the highest three. For me, that was wonderful – he was very aggressive. These days, although, if you happen to depart 2 or 3 tenths on the desk in qualifying due to a mistake, you lose 6 or 7 positions.”
The Frenchman urges endurance earlier than judging Lewis Hamilton’s integration at Ferrari: “You don’t substitute 12 years of collaboration in 2 weeks or 2 races. We undoubtedly want to enhance, however that applies to everybody within the staff and within the paddock – it’s within the DNA of our sport. It’s good that Lewis has the mindset of wanting to enhance and adapt to the automobile. We’ll work to adapt the automobile to him, however he additionally has to take a step. I feel we’re doing all this in a really constructive means collectively.” – the French supervisor identified on the finish of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
“I preferred that he was a bit down on Saturday. When you qualify eighth and say ‘it’s a disgrace’, it means you’re disillusioned – as a result of the entire weekend had been going significantly better. […] I appreciated his response on Saturday. I did my greatest to push him, and on Sunday he was in nice form. We’ll decide up from there subsequent week.”
Waiting for upcoming races
Regardless of encouraging indicators by way of race tempo, Bahrain confirmed the bounds of the SF-25: “When you take a look at the season common, I feel we’re lacking 2, 3 or 4 tenths. We’re missing one thing. We have now to maintain working. Aerodynamic load is a part of that hole.” The important thing, in response to Fred Vasseur, might be to maintain a degree head: “We have to keep calm. We have now highs and lows, like everybody. The issue is that for us the highs are greater, and the lows simply as low. If we need to keep a constant strategy – as we’ve completed very nicely over the past 2 years – we’ve got to remain calm and enhance hundredth by hundredth. I’m satisfied we’ll do the identical good work we’ve completed over the previous 2 years.”
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