In the course of the Christmas lunch in Maranello, all consideration is on Lewis Hamilton, nonetheless absent however nonetheless the principle subject of dialog. That is unsurprising given the unprecedented nature of this transfer in Ferrari and System 1 historical past, on the eve of a season the place the Prancing Horse is anticipated to play a number one function. From the 2025 undertaking to managing the coexistence of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, Frederic Vasseur addressed quite a few subjects in his remaining press assembly of the 12 months.
The near-miss championship
The 2024 System 1 season noticed Ferrari as soon as once more contending for the world championship, however the Crew Principal remains 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 12 months, 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 remaining race. What possible harm us extra was the double DNF in Canada or once we struggled between Spain, Austria, and England, shedding round 80–90 factors in 4 races. The rivals additionally had their lows in the course of the season. With 4 groups in rivalry, 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 subject of the day, revealing the method behind bringing Sir Lewis to Maranello: “In 2023, we gained extra races than Mercedes, and the beginning of the season was optimistic. It wasn’t laborious to persuade him that Ferrari was a sound undertaking. 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. Typically it’s a matter of timing and every thing aligning, however getting in contact was simple. We began speaking a 12 months in the past, and convincing him wasn’t tough.”
Nevertheless, the Crew Principal has no intention of reorganizing the group round Hamilton: “That atmosphere [at Mercedes] labored very properly initially, however much less so in the direction of the top. We have to discover one of the simplest ways to handle Lewis. I completely don’t wish to copy and paste or attempt to carry Mercedes right here wholesale. Over the previous three years, they haven’t gained a world championship. Meaning we have to do issues in another way, with our group, our folks, and our sources.”
Fred Vasseur dismissed skepticism about Lewis Hamilton’s competitiveness: “Ask George Russell after the Abu Dhabi Sunday. Normally, 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 anxious. […] 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 anxious in any respect.”
Coexistence with Charles Leclerc
In 2025, Fred Vasseur will handle two top-tier drivers, not like Purple Bull, which has targeted completely on Max Verstappen. Nevertheless, the Frenchman doesn’t envy their state of affairs: “For me, the judgment isn’t clear-cut. You might say that placing all sources into one automobile and sacrificing the opposite barely is a bonus. Alternatively, 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 present equal consideration to each automobiles, however I believe even for the Drivers’ Championship, this emulation is helpful.”
The Crew 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 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 might 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 general weekend method. After all, 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 best path.”
Ferrari opens its doorways
The Christmas lunch additionally featured many new faces, significantly Deputy Crew 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 Purple Bull to Mercedes, they’ll hold their youngsters in the identical faculty and don’t should promote their home. Except for gardening depart, you may change groups virtually in a single day. This isn’t potential 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 data 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 preventing for hundredths of a second. Any fraction we will acquire from any space is at all times optimistic.”
Waiting for 2025
One other sizzling subject is the automobile for the brand new 12 months, a undertaking Fred Vasseur hopes to name daring: “Typically you assume you’re not taking dangers, and later notice simply how dangerous the undertaking was. We’re within the fourth 12 months of those rules and now know the idea properly. The automobile might be utterly new and may have lower than 1% of the elements from the earlier one. Will probably be a wholly totally different undertaking, however this would be the case for everybody.”
To contend for the title, the precedence might be scoring important factors even in robust 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 12 months. Typically he was struggling, however he managed to get better. I believe subsequent 12 months would be the similar story. The highest groups will develop their automobiles, make progress, and we’ll nonetheless have a four-way battle.”
On this context, Fred Vasseur will make sure the group learns from the expertise of the previous season: “After the preliminary doubles, everybody thought Purple Bull would win. It was an necessary lesson: the season could be very lengthy and has ups and downs. You may 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 very good lesson to maintain pushing and growing. […] 2025 might be a problem as a result of in some unspecified time in the future, we’ll should resolve whether or not to remain targeted on the season or shift to 2026, which is why beginning on the fallacious foot would make every thing more durable. Regardless of this, we’ll hold pushing till the final nook of the final race.” – the French supervisor concluded.
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