Sprint qualifying in Brazil ended with promising results for Ferrari: Charles Leclerc took third place, while Carlos Sainz will start fifth. Important positions to try to attack in the Sprint Race and bring precious points to the Scuderia. However, despite McLaren's best pace in sprint qualifying in Brazil, Frederic Vasseur remains focused on the main objective, underlining that the really important points are awarded in Sunday's race.
A step forward in qualifying, but the best is expected on Sunday
At the end of sprint qualifying in Brazil, Vasseur said he was satisfied with the overall performance of his drivers, highlighting how Ferrari maximized the potential with the available set-up. “It’s the best we could do today,” he told Sky Sport F1. “We won the last two races starting from the second row, so it’s not a bad position, on the contrary. But we know that tomorrow it will be important to do an even better job for the GP qualifying.” Ferrari, therefore, looks to the actual race with the intention of optimizing every detail, aware that the biggest opportunities are still to be played.
McLaren more competitive, but Ferrari ready to attack
Vasseur also commented on the strong performance of the McLarens, who with Piastri and Norris dominated qualifying at Interlagos. “McLaren has found a very suitable set-up for this circuit, especially on the driveability side,” he observed. The Ferrari team principal reiterated that the aggressive approach is fundamental, despite the characteristics of the circuit seeming to favor the rival team: “When you are in this position you must always attack. We know it will be a long fight until the end of the season, with positive races and others that are perhaps more difficult, but starting from the second row is still an opportunity.”
Weekend strategy: watch the weather and pay maximum attention on Sunday
Finally, Vasseur highlighted the importance of weather conditions, which could affect both the Sprint and Sunday's GP: “We have to evaluate the weather forecast, but the main focus is on Sunday's race, in terms of tyre choice and car management.” With four races left and an open battle in the constructors' championship, Ferrari knows it must take every opportunity to avoid losing ground. In this context, the Sprint is important, but the real challenge is to aim for the best result in the GP, where points really count.
Source statements: SkySportF1
