VASSEUR Frédéric (fra), Team Principal and General Manager of Scuderia Ferrari, pictured during the Bahrain Grand Prix of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain 2024, first round of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship 2024, from February 29 to March 2, 2024, at the Bahrain International Circuit, in Sakhir, Bahrain – Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI
Quoted in the Ferrari preview for the third round of the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship in Melbourne, Vasseur stated: “After a busy start to the season with back-to-back races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, we now embark on the longest journey of the year to Australia. The Albert Park circuit is a favorite among the drivers and a place where Ferrari has always received significant support.
“We anticipate being at the forefront on this track, which could result in a hierarchy similar to what we saw in Jeddah. Our intention is to take an assertive approach with the aim of putting pressure on the team that emerged victorious in the first two races,” Vasseur declared.
This statement from the Scuderia leader is a call to the passion of Ferrari fans, accustomed to dominating the F1 Pre-Season Testing Championship, but often failing to deliver during the actual season.
While Max Verstappen of Red Bull led his teammate Sergio Perez in both the opening race of the 2024 F1 season in Bahrain and the subsequent race in Saudi Arabia, Ferrari emerged as the best of the rest. In Albert Park, the goal is to surpass their previous performance.
Carlos Sainz secured a third-place finish in Bahrain, but unfortunately, he was struck by appendicitis a week later. The Spaniard had to undergo surgery, which prevented him from participating in the race after struggling through an uncomfortable Friday in the car, bravely trying to defy the odds and compete.
This unforeseen circumstance led to a change of plans for Oliver Bearman. At just 18 years old, he made history by becoming the youngest driver for Scuderia, and his seventh place was a remarkable way to announce his arrival on the grandest stage.
However, for now, Bearman’s fairy tale in F1 has come to an end this weekend as he returns to Formula 2 Down Under. Sainz will reclaim his position in the car and once again share the garage with Charles Leclerc.
The Italian team confirmed: “Carlos Sainz is set to return to the car after missing Jeddah due to appendicitis. He and teammate Charles Leclerc are likely to be fighting at the front of the pack, as they did in the first two rounds.”
Leclerc had a solid race in Jeddah, finishing in third place, although he was nearly 20 seconds behind the winner, Verstappen, and five seconds behind Perez in second. Ferrari currently sits in second place in the 2024 F1 Constructors’ standings as they approach the third round in Melbourne on Sunday.
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