After the triumph in Mexico, the Brazil brought Ferrari back down to earth. The extreme weather conditions and the sprint format made the Interlagos weekend chaotic and challenging for the Scuderia from Maranello. Frederic Vasseur analyzed a subdued weekend for the Prancing Horse, where Charles Leclerc finished fifth, while Carlos Sainz was forced to retire in the Brazilian GP. A minimal haul of points that however still allows Ferrari to keep the battle for the constructors' championship open, thanks to McLaren's reduced advantage.
A race marked by unpredictability
Vasseur highlighted how the extreme conditions had affected the entire weekend. The rain forced to review the plans several times and the qualifying held on the morning of the race. “It was a difficult Sunday, complicated by the weather and the lack of time for preparations,” Vasseur explained. “The whole weekend was dominated by confusion, with qualifying taking place just before the race. This affected our strategy and the set-up of the car.”
Strategies and forced choices in the rain
Ferrari's team principal acknowledged that strategy played a crucial role, but also admitted that the choices made did not always pay off: “Charles’ first pit stop wasn’t ideal in terms of timing, but it didn’t drastically change the result. The conditions were difficult to predict and it was also difficult to find the right compromise for the tyres,” Vasseur explained, noting that McLaren also had similar difficulties. “We had to make choices, and luck didn’t smile on us, but it’s important to understand what we did and learn from it.”
Preparing for the final sprint
With just three races remaining, Vasseur expressed optimism for the upcoming events, particularly Las Vegas, where Ferrari expects to be able to show a more competitive pace: “We know that Las Vegas will be a more favourable circuit for us than Interlagos, and we need to maximise the points there,” he said. “This is a long season, and the constructors’ championship will only be decided in Abu Dhabi, but we have done a good job so far, being the team with the most points in the last three races.”
In conclusion, Vasseur congratulated Alpine, who achieved an unexpected double podium thanks to a successful strategy. “I have to congratulate Alpine. They had a difficult season, but this result is the result of good management of the circumstances.. We have to focus on ourselves and keep pushing.”
Source statements: FormulaPassion
