The Sprint Qualifying for the United States Grand Prix in Austin gave Ferrari mixed emotions: the Maranello team finished with Charles Leclerc in third place and Carlos Sainz in fifth place, results that were positive overall, but not up to the expectations of team principal Frederic Vasseur. After an excellent performance in free practice, with both Ferrari drivers in front of everyone, qualifying highlighted some difficulties in managing the soft tyres, leaving the team with room for improvement for the rest of the weekend.
Difficulties with soft
Frederic Vasseur, speaking immediately after Sprint Qualifying in Austin, admitted that Ferrari expected to achieve better results. “We expected something more today. We were competitive with the hard and medium tyres, but when we switched to the soft we lacked that little bit extra to be at the front.” The qualifying was very close, with gaps between the leaders being minimal, and the Ferraris had to give way to Verstappen and Russell, both faster on the soft tyres.
However, Vasseur stressed that Ferrari’s true strength will be seen in the race. “The race pace is good, and the soft tyres will not be decisive for the race. Tomorrow we will start from third and fifth, which gives us a good opportunity to do well in the Sprint.”
Leclerc and Sainz ready to fight
Looking ahead to the weekend, Vasseur reiterated that the team is ready to play its cards, confident in the solidity of the SF-24 over long distances: “The competition is very close and the differences are minimal. Leclerc and Sainz have shown that they can consistently be close to the best, and we are confident that we can fight for the top positions in the race.”
The team principal also explained that Ferrari suffered slightly from the irregularities of the asphalt, particularly in Leclerc's driving: "The irregularities of the track affected Charles' driving, especially in some corners where the asphalt was not resurfaced. However, he did not make any significant mistakes, and we are sure that tomorrow he can do well."
The T-Tray Case and the Future of the Weekend
In addition to his performance on the track, Vasseur also commented on the recent controversy surrounding the Red Bull T-Tray case, which was suspected of violating the regulations by modifying the set-up in parc fermé. “I don’t know all the details, but if it were true it would be a serious violation,” Vasseur said. “I trust the FIA to handle the situation correctly. It is essential that the regulations are respected by everyone.”