On Race Day at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Sergio Perez of Red Bull Racing showcased his skills in the RB20 car. The event marked the start of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship season. Ferrari Formula 1 team principal, Fred Vasseur, believes that the race demonstrated a significant improvement for the team compared to the previous year, particularly in closing the gap to Red Bull.
Red Bull continued their dominance from the previous season, with Max Verstappen securing a Grand Slam victory, followed closely by his teammate Sergio Perez in a 1-2 finish. However, while Carlos Sainz finished third, he trailed Verstappen by 25 seconds, a considerable improvement compared to the previous Bahrain GP where he was 48 seconds adrift.
Vasseur acknowledges that Red Bull is currently in a commanding position to retain both championships. However, he emphasizes that the narrowed gap between Ferrari and Red Bull is a positive sign of progress for the team. Vasseur also finds encouragement in Charles Leclerc’s fourth-place finish, despite facing issues with the car’s brake temperature.
Reflecting on the contrasting performances within the Ferrari team, Vasseur admits to having mixed feelings after the race. On one hand, he highlights the team’s achievement of securing pole position with Leclerc’s fastest lap in the qualifying session. Additionally, he notes that Ferrari has managed to close 50% of the gap to Red Bull during the race compared to the previous year when the difference was significantly larger.
However, Vasseur also acknowledges that there were several issues throughout the weekend that need to be addressed, particularly concerning the brakes on Charles’s car. Despite these challenges, Vasseur praises Leclerc’s performance and the team’s ability to strategically navigate the race and secure fourth place.
Initially, Vasseur admits that he was not optimistic when he observed the situation during the first stint of the race. He explains that the problem with the brakes caused a significant temperature difference between the left and right sides of the car, resulting in difficulties with braking and locking. However, towards the end of the race, the issue improved when Leclerc was in the slipstream of another car.
Overall, Vasseur acknowledges the progress made by Ferrari in closing the gap to Red Bull but emphasizes the need to address the issues faced during the weekend to continue improving.
Ferrari embarked on a complete overhaul of its 2024 contender, the SF-24, in an effort to create a more adaptable foundation that would enhance the team’s performance during races.
“This is also a conflicting sentiment. One year ago, I believe we were at 80-90% of our potential in races, but today we have closed only 50% of the gap,” Vasseur emphasized.
“However, our goal is not to be just 40% behind.”
By addressing the issues related to wind sensitivity that plagued its previous model, Vasseur is confident that Ferrari is now better positioned to pursue an ambitious development plan.
“Comparing it to last year and the progress we made throughout the season, the fact that we were able to compete with them in the latter part of the season gives us a great opportunity,” he continued.
“The car also provides a much stronger foundation for this year’s development. It is easier for the drivers to understand its weaknesses and areas for improvement. Last year, it was much more challenging to gain valuable insights from the car.”
Vasseur also dismissed the notion that Ferrari is solely focused on closing the gap to Red Bull, emphasizing the importance of evaluating their performance on different track configurations.
“Firstly, my focus is not on Red Bull. I am concentrated on maximizing our own potential with what we have,” he asserted.
“This weekend was not a clean slate for us as we encountered several minor issues during qualifying yesterday and the race today.
“We must also consider that Jeddah will present a completely different challenge with its distinct layout and track surface.
“We will have a better understanding of the overall situation after Melbourne, I believe. It will be difficult to have a clear picture of the championship before then.”