Fifty-seven seconds behind McLaren, though with a niche barely influenced by the lack to totally exploit the Digital Security Automotive interval throughout the pit cease—not like the papaya duo—a seventh and eighth place that satisfies nobody, and some staff radios revealing frustration with a automotive that, even in Miami, proved to be beneath expectations.
A disappointing end in a weekend that, other than Lewis Hamilton’s podium within the moist Dash Race on Saturday (extra a results of technique than pure tempo), provided only a few joys or satisfactions, as admitted by Ferrari Workforce Principal Frédéric Vasseur on the finish of the race.
Simply two weeks in the past, the Scuderia celebrated its first podium of the season with Charles Leclerc, albeit once more because of exterior circumstances, specifically Lando Norris’ mistake in qualifying. Nonetheless, the outcome itself and the comparatively small hole had nonetheless left one thing of a smile, maybe helped by a observe extra suited to the present traits of the SF-25.
“McLaren was on one other planet right this moment, they had been 30 seconds forward of everybody. Max Verstappen pushed initially to maintain up however fully destroyed his tyres. I feel our tempo was pretty akin to Mercedes and Pink Bull, however McLaren was on one other planet,” Fred Vasseur informed Sky, underlining how the 2 papaya vehicles had been, in actual fact, in a league of their very own, placing nearly 40 seconds on George Russell.
In Miami, Ferrari significantly struggled within the sluggish corners, the place it was even slower than Haas and Williams on a single lap—a transparent signal that there’s nonetheless a lot work to be finished to take a strong step ahead.
Exploits alone—not that there have been many this season—are usually not sufficient; above all, there’s a scarcity of constant efficiency to struggle Pink Bull and Mercedes at each spherical. Ranging from behind, as occurred right this moment, actually doesn’t assist, as a result of there’s all the time the chance of ending up in soiled air and damaging the tyres much more.
Ferrari is aware of that qualifying is the primary space to enhance in the event that they intention to take an actual step ahead within the subsequent races. Nonetheless, regardless of the underwhelming displaying in Miami, Fred Vasseur is satisfied the SF-25 nonetheless has untapped potential.
“Actually,” replied the Workforce Principal when requested if there’s nonetheless room to unlock.
“I don’t really feel like we discovered the absolute best stability all through the weekend, and yesterday we struggled once more on new tyres. For the primary time in two years, we did our greatest lap on used tyres, and that creates some frustration. In the long run, we’ve to work on fixing issues, one by one, to get stronger. However it’s fairly apparent we had been very removed from McLaren right this moment.”
New developments will arrive in Imola, though it gained’t be a significant package deal able to turning the SF-25’s efficiency round. Fred Vasseur remains to be satisfied that, whereas useful, updates aren’t the one key: there’s nonetheless potential to be unlocked within the base package deal, particularly relating to tyre really feel, which has usually been missing.
“I feel it’s not a matter of updates, however of discovering the very best compromise with this automotive. Actually, we’ve a small step coming for Imola, then one other for Barcelona, however crucial factor is placing every thing collectively.”
“Going again to this weekend, I feel it was extra a matter of tyre administration and how you can exploit them greatest, reasonably than pure automotive traits. In some weekends, in sure stints, we managed to extract rather more from the tyres than we did right here. And that’s the place efficiency comes from.”
Lastly, Fred Vasseur additionally commented on what occurred between the 2 drivers, significantly relating to the choice to swap positions—maybe too late—contemplating that at that second Lewis Hamilton appeared to have higher tempo than Charles Leclerc. When the Briton couldn’t draw back, the staff determined to swap them again, as Leclerc then appeared higher capable of reap the benefits of the onerous tyre’s long-run versatility.
“I feel it was the appropriate resolution. Lewis had a softer tyre than Charles. We made the place swap to try to catch Antonelli, following our inner rulebook. Then, as soon as we noticed he couldn’t handle it, we swapped them again. It’s by no means simple to ask drivers to surrender place, however ultimately, they obeyed and did it. We had been the one staff to try this right this moment, nevertheless it was a great resolution, because it was the one probability to catch Antonelli at that time.” – the French supervisor identified.
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