Frederic Vasseur and the George Russell penalty
Frederic Vasseur didn’t search for loopholes to safe Ferrari’s first podium of the season as he spoke to Sky after the 2025 Bahrain GP. The Ferrari staff principal didn’t ask for a penalty for George Russell, which might have promoted Charles Leclerc (who completed lower than 5 seconds behind the Mercedes driver) to 3rd place:
“George Russell misplaced the transponder, so there have been no lap instances or GPS, they usually needed to deactivate the automated DRS system, which he then needed to handle manually. He opened the DRS, and I believe it was a mistake on that lap, as a result of there was nobody in entrance of him… However I don’t assume they’ll penalize him as a result of it was a small acquire and he didn’t do it on goal.”
Ferrari’s technique evaluation
Past the stewards’ issues, Frederic Vasseur additionally commented on Ferrari’s race technique:
“I believe Mercedes was very aggressive, and even Russell mentioned it was one thing daring. It actually was and it stunned us. However the Security Automotive didn’t assist us as a result of it got here out proper after we have been the quickest on monitor, however it went the way it went. What would now we have accomplished? It trusted the tempo, but when we had maintained what we had till then—robust and constant—we may have prolonged the stint after which fitted Softs.”
“The issue,” added the Ferrari pit wall boss, “is that when the Security Automotive got here on the market have been 24 laps to go, and it was too dangerous to go for Softs. Beginning on Mediums after which utilizing one other set of Mediums meant that in the long run we may select between Hards and Softs relying on tyre degradation. It was essentially the most versatile technique, as a result of if degradation was excessive, we may go for Hards, in any other case Softs in case of low tyre put on.”
“I don’t know if it was one of the best we may do,” he concluded concerning race techniques, “as a result of after we determined to increase the primary stint, we wished to have a bonus within the last part with more energizing tyres, however the Security Automotive took away that benefit. However that mustn’t be an excuse, it’s what it’s, you’ll be able to’t predict the Security Automotive and you’ll’t complain when it comes out.”
The brand new ground doesn’t make the distinction
Frederic Vasseur additionally spoke about Ferrari’s efficiency after introducing its improve bundle:
“The place is Ferrari? We’re the place we’re, and I believe it’s clear to everybody that McLaren is a step forward. In some circumstances, like within the second stint of the race, we’re proper there. However total, on common, they’re 2 or 3 tenths quicker than us—perhaps extra in some stints, perhaps much less in others. However the benefit is in that vary, and we’re battling with Mercedes and Pink Bull. That’s how it’s. I believe the state of affairs can change from monitor to trace and session to session, however for now we’re within the group with Pink Bull and Mercedes.”
“New ground? Sure, however now we have to mood expectations,” he added, “as a result of we’re speaking about just a few hundredths of a second. The important thing issue for efficiency throughout the entire paddock proper now’s tyres and tyre administration. And Jeddah is nearly the alternative of Bahrain as a result of it’s a monitor the place you are able to do ten qualifying laps on the identical set.”
Frederic Vasseur defends Lewis Hamilton
The ultimate remark was about Lewis Hamilton’s disappointing weekend, regardless of a stable comeback within the race:
“I perceive the frustration, as a result of in Free Observe 1 and up till Q2 he did an important job—one lap he was forward of Charles, the subsequent behind. Then in Q3 he misplaced his first run (on account of monitor limits) and within the second try he made a mistake and certified ninth. At this time he had a very good race; he completed forward of Max Verstappen and different automobiles that have been in entrance of him. However if you happen to begin that far again, it will get robust,” concluded Ferrari staff principal Frederic Vasseur.
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