Fred Vasseur expressed optimism regarding Ferrari’s chances despite Max Verstappen emerging as the winner in the first two races of 2024. The Italian team has shown progress this year, finishing on the podium in both races. Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur stated that the Scuderia is hopeful about their prospects.
Vasseur mentioned that he did not want to be negative after a decent performance in Saudi Arabia. He emphasized the importance of enjoying the podium finishes and maintaining optimism for the upcoming races. Although Red Bull still holds an advantage over Ferrari, Vasseur acknowledged this fact.
Vasseur pointed out that Red Bull was about two to three tenths faster in qualifying and even more so in terms of race pace. However, he acknowledged that it was difficult to determine the exact deficit as it was unclear if Red Bull was pushing throughout the entire race.
Nevertheless, Vasseur affirmed that the atmosphere within Ferrari was positive. He stated that the Scuderia was only a few steps away from putting pressure on Max Verstappen and Red Bull. Recently, Ferrari has been closing the gap with Red Bull.
Ferrari has made progress during the winter break. Vasseur admitted that it was no longer futile for Ferrari to challenge Red Bull, as they are now only behind by a deficit of almost one second. Consequently, Vasseur believes that Ferrari is finally in a position to compete with the reigning world champions.
Max Verstappen had a comfortable weekend in Jeddah, benefiting from their top-speed advantage. However, Vasseur emphasized that Ferrari would have better opportunities throughout the season.
Ferrari could potentially pose a significant threat to Red Bull this year. However, they will need to work on major in-season upgrades to match Red Bull’s performance. Additionally, finding the right set-up and strategy will be crucial in their pursuit to dethrone Max Verstappen as the championship leader.