Frederic Vasseur seems on the constructive features of the weekend in Mexico Metropolis however doesn’t conceal the truth that there may be nonetheless quite a lot of work to be executed.
McLaren forward
The thirty-second hole to McLaren contrasts with Ferrari’s second consecutive podium, permitting the Scuderia to overhaul Mercedes within the Constructors’ Championship. Frederic Vasseur doesn’t downplay the space misplaced to the race winners, however on the identical time he praises the workforce’s capability to place all the pieces collectively between Austin and Mexico City. The Crew Principal additionally commends Lewis Hamilton, though he disagrees with the penalty that affected the seven-time World Champion.
“Clearly, there may be nonetheless quite a lot of work to do,” Fred Vasseur admits when requested in regards to the 30-second deficit to Lando Norris’ McLaren, who had roughly half a second per lap benefit. “General, it was an excellent weekend for us, with robust qualifying tempo. We’re not removed from preventing for pole place, and ending second and third was a stable consequence. Nonetheless, I feel that by Friday afternoon Lando had already proven that he was on a unique degree in race tempo. In the present day was the identical; I imagine he had not less than 5 tenths benefit.”
Within the second half of the race, Ferrari additionally confronted a problem from Max Verstappen’s Pink Bull, benefiting from a tire benefit. Fred Vasseur doesn’t speculate whether or not Charles Leclerc may have defended his place with out the ultimate neutralization, however he states that he was not overly anxious: “On the pit wall, I do not need a crystal ball. In the event you can not go on the primary lap, it turns into very tough, and that applies to us in addition to anybody else. This was the case for Oscar Piastri with Oliver Bearman and likewise with Antonelli. You’ll be able to have six to seven tenths of benefit, however in case you can not overtake the automobile forward on the primary lap, it turns into extraordinarily difficult. Truthfully, I wasn’t too anxious in regards to the Digital Security Automotive, extra in regards to the restart.”
Hamilton’s penalty
Throughout the early laps, Ferrari even thought of the opportunity of a double podium end, which might have been Lewis Hamilton’s first for Ferrari. Nonetheless, his race was compromised by a penalty with which Fred Vasseur disagrees. “Definitely, we didn’t comply with the race director’s directions, however I don’t recall anybody receiving a 10-second penalty. Wanting on the larger image, with Max slicing 100 meters throughout the grass on the earlier nook, I don’t assume the state of affairs was nicely managed, particularly contemplating that is Mexico. I’m not saying the penalty ought to rely upon the observe, however it’s a must to perceive what you might be doing. Giving 10 seconds dropped us to the again of the group and not using a probability to overhaul. It in all probability price us fourth place, which I feel was achievable even with solely a five-second penalty.”
After serving the ten-second penalty within the pits, Lewis Hamilton’s tempo was not outstanding, however Fred Vasseur believes this was because of the circumstances. “I feel immediately it depended extra on the penalty that price us 5 positions than the rest. Concerning Lewis’ tempo, don’t overlook that he missed the primary follow session. He bought into the automobile in FP2 and instantly was in the course of Norris and Russell. […] It was a robust efficiency from him. We practically made the rostrum, and it might have been an awesome story—I used to be fascinated about it at one level.”
Though Lewis Hamilton stays and not using a podium, the Crew Principal is happy along with his efficiency: “Wanting on the season thus far, he’s doing very nicely. Generally he had minor points, whether or not in qualifying or within the race, and this weekend he put all the pieces collectively. He made no errors and is delivering. It is usually constructive for the workforce to have each vehicles within the factors.”
Steps ahead
General, the workforce managed the automobile nicely throughout a difficult weekend, the place excessive temperatures and skinny air may have recreated the overheating issues already skilled in Singapore. “A big a part of efficiency comes from cooling. To regulate the cooling of the automobile, brakes, engine, and each single aspect, it’s a must to anticipate the place you’ll be throughout the race, whether or not in visitors or not, and sometimes this sacrifices some efficiency. That is the one weekend of the season the place we run with such a excessive cooling degree. General, within the final two occasions, we did nicely, and this weekend we have been aggressive from the very first lap.”
There was no breakthrough for Ferrari, however reasonably a well-executed use of the automobile, from driver efficiency to setup selections and race administration. “We combat for tenths, if not hundredths, of a second. A gust of wind or soiled air in qualifying can transfer you from second to sixth place. This have to be saved in thoughts. This weekend, I imagine Lando was a step forward, however behind him it was a decent battle from second to seventh. Most likely within the final two weekends, we’ve taken a step ahead when it comes to placing all the pieces collectively, with out feeling like we left something on the desk, in contrast to Baku, Singapore, or that sequence of races the place the potential was good, however we struggled to carry house factors,” concludes the Crew Principal.
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