Ferrari’s Night of Despair: Another Disastrous Performance at the Singapore GP
In a heartbreaking turn of events for Ferrari fans, the Scuderia’s performance at the Singapore Grand Prix was nothing short of a nightmare. Team principal Fred Vasseur expressed his deep frustrations as both cars found themselves “on the back foot” after what initially seemed like a promising weekend. The echoes of disappointment resonate yet again, reminiscent of their dismal outing in Azerbaijan just a week prior.
As the sun set over Marina Bay, optimism filled the air when Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton showcased competitive lap times during qualifying. Hopes were high, but those dreams were quickly dashed when, as the clock wound down, Hamilton could only manage sixth place while Leclerc trailed closely behind in seventh, a staggering half a second off the blistering pace set by George Russell, who snatched pole position.
The race itself was a catastrophic affair. Both drivers were forced to nurse their cars through the grueling laps due to a significant brake problem. Hamilton’s situation reached a boiling point, with a near-total brake failure forcing him to cut corners—literally—to make it to the finish line. This reckless maneuver earned him a five-second penalty post-race, relegating him to a dismal eighth place, while Leclerc managed to salvage a sixth-place finish.
Vasseur didn’t mince words in the aftermath, lamenting the missed opportunities that seemed to promise a brighter outcome. “What is mega frustrating is that the last two weekends we came in Baku and then Singapore, and at the beginning of the weekend the pace was there,” he told the media, brimming with disappointment. “We didn’t extract the best from the car, I think honestly. We are doing 29.7s Q1 yesterday and 29.7s Q3. We are struggling like hell all the race just to be on the back foot.”
The emotional toll is palpable, as Vasseur reflected on the relentless efforts of the team: “For the team, it’s mega frustrating, for the team and drivers and for all of us, because we are not pushing. And at the end of the day, we are putting so much effort to be there, that when you have to do all the races on the back foot, it’s horrible.”
As the Constructors’ Championship slips further from their grasp, Ferrari now finds itself embroiled in a fierce battle for second place with rivals Mercedes and Red Bull. With McLaren solidifying their lead, the Scuderia’s stagnation in performance is alarming. Vasseur acknowledged the pressing need for improvements to stay competitive: “I think both will come together. But if we are not able to fix the issues, no way to fight, it means that we have to fix the issue for sure for next week.”
Looking ahead, Vasseur remains cautiously optimistic, hinting that the upcoming race could present fresh opportunities: “Next week will be a different story. Next race will be a different story, but yeah, both have to come together.” But fans are left wondering—can Ferrari truly rise from the ashes of this disappointment, or will they continue to fall behind in the relentless pursuit of speed and glory? The clock is ticking, and the pressure is mounting as the team prepares for their next chance to prove themselves on the track.