Fred Vasseur: “Red Bull is under pressure and will be forced to take more risks”

Fred Vasseur perfectly understands the unique challenges posed by the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend. Speaking about the circuit during an interview session with print journalists, the head of the Scuderia Ferrari highlighted the exceptional demands it places on the car and the driver. “The first thing that is obvious is having a higher load volume here than on any other circuit during the year,” he explained. This increased load, combined with the need for precise handling in the very slow corners, makes Monaco a significant test for any Formula 1 team.

The Frenchman emphasized the importance of the mechanical balance of the car, noting that the key to success lies in adapting the vehicle to handle tight turns in Monaco. “The hardest part here is being able to turn,” he said, acknowledging that optimizing the car for these conditions is crucial to achieve the best lap times.

The mental resilience of the drivers also plays a role in Monaco, especially during qualifications. “Maybe here, it takes on a little more importance in qualifying performance,” mentioned Vasseur, highlighting how the precision required in the narrow streets of Monaco leaves little room for error. Last year, several cars were within a few hundredths of a second in qualifying, a difference that could come down to a slight deviation in speed or braking distance.

Single-seaters are getting bigger and bigger, a challenge

Addressing the difficulties encountered by modern F1 cars in the tightest corners of Monaco, Vasseur pointed out the increasing size of the vehicles. “Today, an F1 car has a larger volume than an endurance car,” he noted, illustrating the physical challenges posed by the circuit layout. This, combined with increased reliability and fewer errors from the drivers, contributes to a reduced number of overtakings during the race.

Despite the pressures, Vasseur remains confident in Charles Leclerc’s approach. He is focused on doing his job, he said, dismissing the idea that Leclerc feels any additional pressure racing in his home country. The Frenchman noted that Leclerc’s attitude is appropriate for the unique demands of Monaco, focusing on the task at hand rather than succumbing to external pressures. “I found him super relaxed, but focused. He hasn’t always won, but it hasn’t always been his fault. Then, we shouldn’t imagine it’s luck, bad luck. We just have to take it as Monaco and focus on the race,” he told journalists.

Fred Vasseur not intimidated by McLaren

The Scuderia boss also discussed the competition with McLaren, which has shown a significant improvement in recent races, with a win in Miami and a second place (very close) in Imola. However, he quickly pointed out that Ferrari has also made considerable progress. “I just showed the mechanics some slides with statistics,” he shared, indicating that although McLaren has improved, Ferrari’s advancements are just as noteworthy.

« They haven’t progressed more than us since Japan last year. We have to believe in the data a little and not in impressions. In Japan last year, they finished with a 25-second lead over us. It’s been two races that we are in tenth place. Plus, we have a 60-point lead over them in the championship. I don’t consider McLaren as our only opponent.

One area where Ferrari has made significant progress is operational efficiency. Where we have made a lot of progress compared to last year is that at this time of year, we had already lost 40 points in operations, explained Vasseur. This year, Ferrari has significantly reduced the points lost due to reliability issues and strategic errors, a testament to their improved processes.

Red Bull under increasing pressure

Looking to the future, Vasseur believes that putting pressure on Red Bull is crucial. “I think they are under pressure when we saw the Miami race where Max cuts the chicane,” he observed, noting that such mistakes can happen when rivals feel the pressure. By performing consistently, Ferrari can force Red Bull to take more risks, which could lead to errors.

« Max Verstappen made a lot of mistakes in the free practice sessions at Imola, he hadn’t made any for 3 years. During the Imola weekend, he made more mistakes than in the past 3 years. It’s natural. When you feel the others right behind you, you tend to push harder. It’s not just the driver, it’s the team that will have to take more risks, in terms of strategy, being more aggressive, making pit stops. Last year, in Spielberg, 3 laps before the end, Max made an extra pit stop to try to set the fastest lap. We must never let them be in that situation again, insisted the team principal.

The highly anticipated arrival of Lewis Hamilton

Finally, Vasseur expressed his optimism about the future, particularly with the potential arrival of Lewis Hamilton. “It will allow the team to reach a new level,” he said, suggesting that Hamilton’s experience and expertise could benefit the entire team, including Leclerc. Vasseur sees this as an opportunity for growth and improvement for everyone. « Charles is someone intelligent, he will see where Lewis is strong, where he is extremely strong. And as he is a real sponge, he will be able to take the best from it,” he concluded.