After a positive first day of free practice for Ferrari in Singapore, Frederic Vasseur did not hide his frustration over the incident related to therear wing of McLaren, which continues to be a topic of discussion in the paddock. Although Ferrari has achieved excellent results on track, the team principal commented on the advantages that McLaren could have gained from the use of this particular wing in races such as Baku, Monza and Spa, before the intervention of the FIA.
Vasseur in Singapore on McLaren wing: “Frustrating”
McLaren used the offending rear wing in three crucial events – Baku, Spa and Monza – where small details made a big difference in terms of performance. Only after the intervention of the FIA did McLaren agree to modify the flexibility of the wing flap, but for Vasseur, the damage was done. At Monza Ferrari won but in Baku Charles Leclerc, firmly in the lead in the first stint, was overtaken by Oscar Piastri, who took the win. Now McLaren is leading the constructors' championship, and episodes like these, when we are talking about a few points of difference, risk distorting the result.
"If we think about Monza, it's frustrating: we were six cars in two hundredths; or in Baku, where Charles came alongside Oscar 10 times in turn 1. Certain details can make a huge difference.“, said Vasseur, expressing his disappointment at the missed opportunities. The team principal underlined how, in such close races, even the smallest technical advantage can be decisive.
Although the FIA asked McLaren to modify the wing, Vasseur admitted that he did not fully understand the Federation's communication: “There will be time to discuss the communication on the wing, even if I didn't understand it. If it is legal they can use it, otherwise no."
However, the Ferrari team has decided to focus on the next races, leaving the controversy behind. “It's over now, the most important thing is to focus on the next races and not on the past."
Ferrari competitive in Singapore free practice
Despite the technical controversies, Ferrari gave encouraging signs in Singapore. Charles Leclerc closed the second free practice session with excellent times, demonstrating that the SF-24 could be among the most competitive cars of the weekend. Carlos Sainz, despite being half a second behind his teammate, also due to a brake problem, sees room for improvement
Vasseur stressed the importance of qualifying, which is fundamental on a circuit like Singapore, where overtaking is extremely difficult: “As usual here – even though they have added a DRS zone – it will be very difficult to overtake and track position will be crucial.", he has declared.
With the focus now on Saturday’s qualifying, Ferrari looks well-positioned to capitalise on every opportunity and challenge McLaren and Red Bull for the top spots.
Source statements: Motorsport.com
