F1 NEWS: Ferrari’s Fred Vasseur: “Season Not Over” Despite Tough Australian GP Qualifying, we are not...read more

F1 NEWS: Ferrari’s Fred Vasseur: “Season Not Over” Despite Tough Australian GP Qualifying, we are not…read more

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has reassured fans and media that the team’s season is far from defined after a challenging qualifying session for the Australian Grand Prix. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will start from the fourth row, with Leclerc qualifying seventh and Hamilton in eighth. The result was a disappointment for Ferrari, especially considering McLaren’s dominant front-row lockout, with Lando Norris taking pole and Oscar Piastri securing second place.

McLaren’s impressive performance was particularly evident in the final sector of the lap, where both Norris and Piastri found significant time. Ferrari, on the other hand, faced difficulties, especially in Q3. Leclerc initially showed promising pace in the early part of the session but made a crucial mistake on his second run, costing him valuable time. This allowed several rivals, including Max Verstappen, George Russell, Yuki Tsunoda, and Alexander Albon, to outqualify him.

Although the final qualifying times showed Ferrari trailing McLaren by seven-tenths of a second, Vasseur downplayed concerns about the apparent performance gap. He explained that the difference was not as dramatic as it seemed, suggesting that, under normal circumstances, the real gap would have been closer to one to three-tenths. He attributed the larger margin to Leclerc’s inability to complete his final flying lap due to his earlier mistake.

Speaking to Sky Sport F1, Vasseur stressed that one qualifying session does not dictate the team’s season. While he acknowledged that Ferrari’s Q3 performance was below expectations, he pointed out that their pace in Q1 and Q2 was much more competitive. He emphasized that Ferrari had been closer to McLaren earlier in the session, reinforcing his belief that the final gap was exaggerated by Leclerc’s error.

Additionally, Vasseur highlighted that the third sector had been a particular weak point for Ferrari, where both McLaren and Verstappen found extra time. He admitted that improving performance in this part of the circuit would be a priority moving forward.

Despite the disappointing qualifying result, Vasseur remains confident about Ferrari’s potential in the race. He noted that no points are awarded for qualifying and that Ferrari’s long-run pace during Friday’s practice sessions was strong, especially in dry conditions. This gives the team hope that they can recover positions during the race.

Furthermore, Vasseur suggested that unpredictable race conditions could work in Ferrari’s favor. If the race features incidents, safety cars, or even rain, it could create opportunities for Ferrari to move up the order. Given Leclerc’s and Hamilton’s experience in managing tricky situations, the team is optimistic about its chances of making up ground.

While McLaren’s dominance in qualifying has raised concerns about Ferrari’s pace, Vasseur’s comments suggest that the situation is not as bleak as it appears. Ferrari remains focused on improving its performance and remains hopeful for a strong race result. As the season progresses, the team aims to close the gap to its rivals and challenge for podium finishes.