The head of the Ferrari team, Frederic Vasseur, emphasized that the team will maintain its current strategy, despite a challenging weekend at the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix. After a successful performance in Monaco, where the SF-24 proved to be the most competitive car, Ferrari faced difficulties with tire temperatures in Canada, resulting in the elimination of both drivers in Q2 and various issues during the race. Charles Leclerc had engine problems from the second lap, causing a loss of up to one second per lap. Although Leclerc tried to solve the problem during a pit stop, an early switch to slick tires left him a lap behind and ultimately forced him to retire from the race. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz had a relatively smooth race but was starting to gain more speed when he spun and collided with Alex Albon at Turn 6.
Vasseur questioned whether Ferrari’s disappointing performance at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was the worst since he took over as team principal in late 2022. While acknowledging that it was not the best display, Vasseur emphasized that the team cannot let setbacks affect their approach. Despite the challenges they face, Ferrari will continue to work together as a team, both in good times and bad, and maintain the same approach for the next race. Vasseur expressed confidence in their ability to handle difficult weekends and accepted that it is part of the nature of racing.
After the victory and double podium in Monaco, Ferrari closed in on Red Bull, reducing the gap to 24 points. However, Max Verstappen’s victory in the Canadian Grand Prix more than doubled the deficit. Vasseur acknowledged that there will be more setbacks along the way but emphasized the importance of not allowing them to affect the team’s work practices. As they head into the next stage at the Spanish Grand Prix, Ferrari is now 49 points behind Red Bull, with McLaren even further behind, with an additional 40-point difference in third place.
