Ferrari Optimizes Suspension Ahead of Hungarian Grand Prix
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has confirmed that a recently introduced rear suspension upgrade, tested during the Sprint weekend in Belgium, has the potential to enhance performance at the forthcoming Hungarian Grand Prix. The team faced limited practice time at Spa-Francorchamps but managed a podium finish for Charles Leclerc and a notable recovery from a pit lane start for Lewis Hamilton, who finished seventh.
Vasseur emphasized the need for optimization, stating, "I think that we have to fine-tune the situation. It’s never easy to introduce something on a Sprint weekend, but we didn’t want to postpone to Budapest." He acknowledged the challenges posed by the week’s format, which included abbreviated practice sessions, making it difficult to gather substantive data.
The team views the recent upgrade as a crucial step, though Vasseur cautioned that significant mechanical enhancements typically require time for optimal integration. "For sure, some upgrades provide immediate benefits, while others demand fine-tuning to understand their behavior and correlation with other systems like brakes and ride height," he noted.
While he would have preferred a more traditional introduction of the upgrade, Vasseur concluded, "I think in the end it was the best choice to do it and also the best preparation for Budapest." Ferrari aims to capitalize on this upgrade to improve competitiveness as they head into a pivotal race at the Hungaroring.
