Ferrari, after a very long time, has lastly proven the potential to win the title if it continues down this path. The frustration of shedding to McLaren by simply 14 factors was rapidly overshadowed by a way of hope and pleasure for the longer term.
Staff Principal Fred Vasseur was in nice spirits as he welcomed a bunch of worldwide media to an occasion house overlooking Ferrari’s gorgeous Fiorano take a look at monitor throughout the staff’s conventional Christmas lunch.
Thought-about essentially the most difficult job within the sport, the strain on the shoulders of the individual main Formulation 1’s most well-known staff is big, however Fred Vasseur has taken on the function with outstanding ease.
It’s, in fact, nonetheless early days. That is solely the second 12 months of what he and Ferrari hope might be a long-term collaboration, however the indicators from this season are optimistic.
Fred Vasseur is an extremely likable determine, with a formidable capacity to defuse tense conditions together with his dry humorousness. Thus far, this technique has labored very nicely in Maranello, as has his all-encompassing strategy to the job and a administration model that enables his staff to take dangers with out concern of punishment.
The purpose has not been achieved—removed from it. After all, bringing the championship again to Italy is the intention, however what the Scuderia actually needs is the beginning of a brand new profitable cycle, just like the one skilled between 2000-2004 with Michael Schumacher or the dominance loved by Pink Bull and Mercedes over the previous 20 years. Nonetheless, he’s happy with the progress made to this point. “It was season for us, definitely with ups and downs like everybody else, however with extra ups than downs,” he says, as we sit down for a one-on-one chat in a fantastic constructing a stone’s throw from the house of founder Enzo Ferrari. “It was an excellent season in comparison with 2023.”
“We’re not off course. We have now improved in each single pillar of efficiency: reliability, technique, pit stops, pure efficiency. Relating to the KPIs, we achieved 5 wins in comparison with one, and by way of factors, we scored 60% extra in 2024 than in 2023.”
“All the things goes in the fitting route. We missed the ultimate step, however after we went to Abu Dhabi, the proportion probability of profitable was very low. After Saturday, it was even decrease. It’s true that after the second or third lap, I assumed, ‘Ah, the planets are virtually aligned now, let’s push.’ However it wasn’t in Abu Dhabi the place we fell brief. Abu Dhabi was occasion; it was extra in Canada the place we had a double zero or throughout the summer time the place one thing was missing.”
Ferrari responded nicely to the mid-season hunch and completed the season on an extremely optimistic word, with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc each making the rostrum in Abu Dhabi. Total, it was a big step ahead.
This 12 months, Ferrari was solely 14 factors behind the leaders, in comparison with 454 final 12 months, and apart from this clear enhance in factors, the proportion of podium finishes rose by 175%, and the common factors per race elevated by 44.91% in 2024. These statistics weren’t sufficient to win the title, however they’re the sort of numbers that, if constantly repeated, will put them able to make the ultimate leap. The truth that Ferrari convincingly beat reigning world champions Pink Bull and Mercedes is an announcement of intent, though they narrowly misplaced to McLaren.
What made the distinction this 12 months? “There’s no huge distinction,” says Fred Vasseur. “We’re making an attempt to enhance in each single space of efficiency, in each single division of the corporate. It’s one small step after one other.
“It’s not about having one thing that may change the sport, there’s no magic bullet. You need to maintain this mindset and push each member of the group to attempt to do a greater job, making an attempt to avoid wasting a gram on each half, and I believe within the final month we’ve made good progress. Definitely, it’s not sufficient, however we’re not off course.”
He provides, “It’s a unending mission, a unending means of hiring, growing, and making an attempt to do a greater job.”
His drivers have been additionally distinctive in 2024—with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc ending the season with career-high factors totals—and have been instrumental in Ferrari’s enchancment.
“I believe Charles has made a step ahead in administration, not simply of the tires but in addition of the race,” says Vasseur. “The administration of his strategy was a bit extra… I wouldn’t say targeted, however much less distracted at instances. Total, it was season from Charles. Not all the time simple. Even after we had powerful moments, like in Austria, Spain, and the UK, he was capable of come again, to have a optimistic angle. I believe that response was vital for him and for the staff.”
“For Carlos, it’s true that final 12 months was in all probability step one in Ferrari’s response. He got here again after the summer time break with very high-level performances—the rostrum at Monza, the pole at Monza, the win in Singapore—and this pushed Charles to react and in the end obtain six or seven entrance rows in a row.”
“I believe we’ve made good progress, and that is a part of the staff’s restoration. They’ve all the time pushed one another—in a optimistic means—and have performed very nicely. I’m very happy with their relationship.”
Waiting for 2025, Fred Vasseur expects a four-way combat for the championship amongst his staff, McLaren, Pink Bull, and Mercedes, particularly if the technical rules stay secure.
“Everybody takes dangers,” says Fred Vasseur. “Should you don’t take dangers, you’re useless. We all know the event of this automobile; it’s by no means simple as a result of we’re on the rise, and it’s all the time tougher.
“Everyone seems to be taking dangers, and we additionally must take dangers as a result of 2025 might be an odd season. We’ll have to modify fairly early to the 2026 mission, which implies the automobile we placed on monitor in Bahrain might be essential.”
Fred Vasseur has performed an impressive job reworking Ferrari’s tradition, eliminating the concern issue and inspiring all staff members to take dangers. He has no intention of fixing this technique as he heads into his third season on the helm.
“I need to maintain the identical strategy as final 12 months by way of recruitment, improvement, and steady enchancment. This mentality is a part of the DNA of each F1 staff. If sooner or later you say you’re in form, I believe that’s the start of the top. You’ll want to push past the bounds of each single space day-after-day and are available to the manufacturing facility each morning saying, ‘I have to do a greater job than yesterday.’ You probably have this strategy, I believe you’re heading in the right direction.”
Nevertheless, one factor that may change is the id of one of many drivers: seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton will be a part of the famed Italian staff subsequent season on a multi-year contract. Fred Vasseur is understandably enthusiastic about one of many best drivers ever becoming a member of his staff and sees his arrival as additional strengthening an already rising staff.
“It is going to be a step ahead in constructing or growing the staff. He brings his expertise, his background, and this might be useful for the staff’s improvement. It is going to be helpful for Charles and for the engineers, and we have to take it as one other step in the fitting route. It’s optimistic for us.”
Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari is one thing sudden. Along with Charles Leclerc, he’ll type a rare pairing that might mark a turning level for the staff. There are lots of objectives and desires to attain, with 2025 promising to be an thrilling 12 months.
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