Ferrari as soon as once more missed out on the rostrum in Bahrain – a consequence that appeared inside attain till the Security Automotive nullified the strategic benefit constructed as much as that time. Fred Vasseur defended the choice to suit onerous tyres throughout these moments, quite than the softs which turned out to be simpler on George Russell’s Mercedes. The Workforce Principal additionally expressed his help for Lewis Hamilton, acknowledging the difficulties he’s going through in adapting to the Ferrari.
The reasoning behind the technique
“We had no alternative between the onerous or used comfortable underneath the Security Automotive, at the very least from our perspective,” Fred Vasseur defined, placing into context the choice to suit the onerous compound, which later proved underwhelming. “I feel even Russell at one level thought of it very formidable to go for twenty-four laps, however ultimately it paid off. The observe was a bit cooler and extra rubbered in.” The Workforce Principal additionally defended the workforce’s total method to the race: “I feel the preliminary technique was good. Within the first stint we paid the value, having to stretch it a bit, however then the tempo was actually robust and it may have been an excellent race if not for the Security Automotive. However we are able to’t complain, that’s a part of the sport.”
“With out the Security Automotive, we may have chosen between the comfortable and onerous for the ultimate stint, however with the neutralisation and 24 laps remaining, the comfortable was not an possibility for us. The entire race was a bit chaotic by way of technique. There are races the place 90% of the grid does precisely the identical factor, and others the place it’s not like that. Antonelli had fitted the softs earlier than the Security Automotive, which means he would have needed to do three stops. We’re nonetheless taking our first steps with these compounds, I feel we’re all nonetheless flying a bit blind. That’s a part of the sport, and I feel McLaren is by far the very best on this.”
Assist for Lewis
Fred Vasseur then turned to Lewis Hamilton’s ongoing adaptation struggles: “I perceive his frustration on Saturday night. For those who take a look at the free apply periods, Q1 and Q2, he was at all times a couple of tenth off Charles. Then in Q3 his first lap was deleted, and within the second he made a mistake. That’s irritating, for each him and us. However on Sunday he fought again properly to complete fifth. His race tempo was practically on par with the highest three. For me, that was superb – he was very aggressive. These days, although, in case you go away 2 or 3 tenths on the desk in qualifying due to a mistake, you lose 6 or 7 positions.”
The Frenchman urges endurance earlier than judging Lewis Hamilton’s integration at Ferrari: “You don’t exchange 12 years of collaboration in 2 weeks or 2 races. We positively want to enhance, however that applies to everybody within the workforce and within the paddock – it’s within the DNA of our sport. It’s good that Lewis has the mindset of wanting to enhance and adapt to the automotive. We’ll work to adapt the automotive to him, however he additionally has to take a step. I feel we’re doing all this in a really constructive means collectively.” – the French supervisor identified on the finish of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
“I preferred that he was a bit down on Saturday. For those who qualify eighth and say ‘it’s a disgrace’, it means you’re disillusioned – as a result of the entire weekend had been going a lot better. […] I appreciated his response on Saturday. I did my greatest to push him, and on Sunday he was in nice form. We’ll decide up from there subsequent week.”
Waiting for upcoming races
Regardless of encouraging indicators by way of race tempo, Bahrain confirmed the bounds of the SF-25: “For those who take a look at the season common, I feel we’re lacking 2, 3 or 4 tenths. We’re missing one thing. Now we have to maintain working. Aerodynamic load is a part of that hole.” The important thing, in response to Fred Vasseur, shall be to maintain a stage head: “We have to keep calm. Now we have highs and lows, like everybody. The issue is that for us the highs are greater, and the lows simply as low. If we need to keep a constant method – as we’ve achieved very properly over the past 2 years – we’ve got to remain calm and enhance hundredth by hundredth. I’m satisfied we’ll do the identical good work we’ve achieved over the previous 2 years.”
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