Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur believes that Lando Norris’ triumph at the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix further demonstrates that McLaren and Ferrari can apply pressure to Red Bull throughout the 2024 F1 season.
Red Bull dominated all but one Grand Prix in 2023, often with ease, and it wasn’t until Round 16 in Singapore that Carlos Sainz and Ferrari emerged victorious against them.
Now, after only six Grands Prix in the 2024 season, the Max Verstappen/Red Bull combination has been defeated twice. Lady luck played a role in Melbourne when a rear brake failure halted Verstappen’s charge early on, allowing Sainz to claim victory. In Miami, it was the blistering pace of Norris in the second half of the race, following a Safety Car restart, that secured the win.
Does this mean that Red Bull can be pressured?
“Yes,” responded Vasseur to the media after the race on Sunday.
“I believe it has been the case since the beginning of the season, depending on the track.
“Red Bull is still in the lead. Verstappen could have won today if not for the safety car incident. They still have a slight advantage.
“What is true is that compared to one year ago, when we were able to perform well and put everything together, we are now there.
“This means that we are putting them under some pressure. They have to be more aggressive with their strategy. They are no longer in the comfortable position they were in last year, where it didn’t matter what happened. After lap two, they were already in front.
“I believe this changes the dynamics of the race management. It presents an opportunity for us because if we take another small step, I think we will be in a position to compete with them every single weekend.”
A lot can change in a year.
In the 2023 Miami GP, Red Bull secured a comfortable 1-2 finish, with Ferrari out of contention for the win and McLaren finishing 17th and 19th respectively.
In 2024, Norris’ first victory came as a result of his superior pace compared to Verstappen in the final part of the race, following a Safety Car period. If the timing of the Safety Car had been more favorable for Ferrari, it could have been a red (and blue) Ferrari taking the top spot on the podium.
“I would like to extend my congratulations to Lando and McLaren,” expressed Vasseur.
“I believe that Lando is deserving of this victory, considering his impressive performances over the past two or three seasons.
“Although I am currently in competition with Ferrari and not McLaren, I am genuinely pleased for them as they have earned this success.”
The triumph of Norris and McLaren can be classified as an unexpected outcome, especially since Verstappen secured pole position for both the Sprint and Grand Prix, emerging victorious in the former.
Nonetheless, Vasseur was not taken aback, as McLaren consistently displayed strong pace throughout the weekend, with several drivers closely matched in terms of competitiveness.
“This is not the first time this season that McLaren has demonstrated impressive pace,” he remarked.
“If we take a look at Melbourne, for instance, they were fiercely competing with us. Overall, I observed three teams battling closely throughout the weekend, with a margin of only two or three-tenths of a second, whether it was from lap to lap, stint to stint, or compound to compound.
“I was not surprised by Lando’s performance. On Friday, McLaren showcased their capabilities, introducing an upgrade for this weekend.
“If we examine the past few races, they have consistently been in the mix. They showed good pace in China as well.
“I anticipate that this will continue until the end of the season. McLaren, ourselves, and Red Bull will likely be in close contention.”