Carlos Sainz completed several laps for Ferrari during pre-season testing, finishing with the fastest time of all.
Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur believes that the tests have demonstrated the team’s success in creating a more predictable Formula 1 car for 2024.
Vasseur acknowledged that Ferrari had anticipated a challenging start to the previous season after observing negative indications in simulations.
The Italian manufacturer’s SF-23, an evolution of the winning car from 2022, turned out to be a volatile machine from the start, especially susceptible to wind sensitivity.
Ferrari committed to a redesigned car concept for 2024, aiming to provide their drivers with a more adaptable car that can remain competitive in race conditions.
Charles Leclerc expressed optimism about Ferrari’s challenger, the SF-24, stating that they have solved the fundamental problem that hindered their performance in the last season.
Speaking at the end of pre-season testing in Bahrain, Vasseur is hopeful that Ferrari has achieved the established development goal.
“We can be satisfied with what we achieved during this test, both in terms of distance covered and data provided,” reflected Vasseur.
“Furthermore, both Charles and Carlos were pleased with how things went.
“It was three productive days without technical issues, which is the most desirable outcome, especially when it is the only session before the start of the season.
“Our main goal was to evaluate the predictability of the SF-24, ensuring that it is not overly sensitive to external conditions and easy to handle. Based on the feedback from Charles and Carlos and the consistency of their performance in a long sequence, it seems that we have succeeded in this aspect.
“It is crucial for the car to behave in this way as it allows the driver to quickly understand its characteristics and maximize its potential.”
Leclerc concluded the final day with the fastest lap, while Carlos Sainz’s fastest time on the second day remained as the benchmark in the tests.
Vasseur warned that Ferrari cannot confirm their progress until all teams reveal their full potential in the opening season’s qualifying session.
The Frenchman, who is in his second season as Ferrari team principal, predicts that the top positions on the grid will be determined by narrow margins in the early rounds.
“This is just a testing session, and now we must wait exactly one week when we all return to the track together for the first qualifying session of the season,” he added.
“However, I can confidently say that judging solely based on our own performance, we have started on the right foot.
“I hope that several leading teams are at a very similar level, and I am looking forward to seeing how our package compares to our competitors.”
