F1 News: Fred Vasseur believes Ferrari are in title contention
Charles Leclerc surprised the field (himself included) by taking 3rd place last Sunday. Ferrari anticipated a far more difficult race in Zandvoort, with the SF-24 outperforming initial projections. However, the team’s next upgrade package in Monza will determine if they can win races moving forward.
At the beginning of the Dutch GP weekend, the narrative surrounding Ferrari was relatively gloomy. However, Leclerc and Sainz achieved a significant step forward on Sunday, consistently setting times that kept McLaren and Red Bull honest.
This result is a welcome boost for Ferrari after months of losing ground to their rivals. Yesterday’s podium finish also supports Fred Vasseur’s relentless optimism.
The 56-year-old believes the team’s recent dip in form is only a blip and expects a return to their race-winning pace in the near future.
According to Vasseur, there is no reason why Ferrari cannot fight for the Championship:
“Red Bull dominated at the beginning,” he told Corriere Della Sera.
“Then we did well, then McLaren and finally Mercedes. It will be a rollercoaster until the end.
“I think we are already fighting [for the World Championship] this year. We won [races], so the potential is there despite some mistakes.
“And in any case, the development of the 2025 Ferrari is proceeding well,” he added.
Monza upgrades will define the SF-24’s trajectory
Ferrari’s next upgrades are scheduled for this weekend’s Italian GP. The Italian outfit looks to make a statement on home soil.
As evidenced by McLaren’s latest package, progress in the development race can instantly deliver huge results. With the top four teams so closely matched, a matter of tenths makes all the difference.
Despite struggling for pace all weekend, Ferrari secured a strong result at the Dutch GP.
With this in mind, the Maranello-based team must work to continue maximising their results. Perhaps more importantly, Vasseur’s team will hope their upgrades give them more to work with.
Assuming Ferrari can compensate for their mid-season hiccup, they can return to regularly contending for victories. As Red Bull stagnates, there is still a chance for the Italian squad to progress in the constructors’ Championship.
