After the Monaco GP, Ferrari never found the podium again. In Canada and Spain - a race in which the second evolutionary step for the SF-24 arrived, the Maranello team struggled to keep up with Verstappen's Red Bull and Lando Norris' McLaren, even climbing to fourth place, behind Mercedes. We're in the middle of a triple header. With race weekends so close together, Ferrari's response must be immediate. On the eve of this second Race Week in Austria, the Ferrari team principal took stock of the situation, talking about the updates brought to Spain and the next steps to avoid losing the leading group which is becoming increasingly constant. For the Austrian GP Frederic Vasseur expects a reaction, also from the riders.
Did the updates brought to Spain work?
Spain is an important testing ground for the teams, especially when bringing updates. Ferrari hoped to take a step forward but it seems rather to have taken a step backwards. In fact, if the performances in qualifying remained more or less the same, it was not the same in the race. As in Canada, Ferrari was unable to move up the race positions in Spain, finishing in fifth and sixth place. Despite this, Vasseur judged the developments brought about positively. “The updates introduced in the last race worked as expected, but we have seen how our rivals are not sitting idle and how, at this moment, they are four teams in the space of less than three tenths".
Vasseur calls everyone to report for the Austrian GP: "We need a change of pace, even from the riders"
Ferrari is therefore called to react not to let Red Bull escape but also and above all to defend itself from McLaren, fighting for victories. One of the main topics of the Spanish GP also concerned the duel between Leclerc and Sainz, considered excessive by many. Because of this On the eve of the weekend in Austria - where Sprint will return - Vasseur called everyone together, including the drivers, to take a further step.
"As a team – including drivers – specifies Vasseur, we have to take a step to make sure we don't leave any opportunities on the way, both when it comes to the flying lap in qualifying, key with such fierce and close rivals, and regarding the execution of the race: In Austria I want to see a change of pace. We we have to focus a lot on ourselves because in Spielberg every detail will make the difference and the preparation work done in Maranello will also be fundamental given that with the return of the Sprint format we will only have one free practice session before going into qualifying".
Source statements: Ferrari
