Ferrari Urged to Enhance Race Execution Following Dismal Canadian GP
Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur emphasized the need for improved race weekend execution, drawing inspiration from Mercedes, after the Scuderia’s lackluster performance at the Canadian Grand Prix. Ferrari finished fourth in the standings, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton securing fifth and sixth, respectively.
The weekend was marred by missed opportunities for Ferrari, highlighted by Leclerc’s crash in Free Practice 1, which forced him to skip FP2. Despite showing potential with a purple sector time in qualifying, Leclerc’s performance was hindered by a qualifying error that placed him eighth on the grid. The race was further complicated when Hamilton struck an animal on track, while Leclerc faced a contentious tyre strategy decision from the team.
Vasseur acknowledged Leclerc’s frustration regarding the team’s strategy, which opted for a two-stop race over Leclerc’s preferred one-stop approach. "We can take some risks, but it was a bit too optimistic to do one stint of 50 laps with the hards in terms of tyre life," Vasseur noted. "We were missing some laps during the weekend to estimate it."
Vasseur also pointed to collective mistakes, including the crash and the suboptimal tyre choices for qualifying. "You can change positions for almost nothing from one weekend to another if you don’t do the perfect weekend," he stated.
Reflecting on the comparative performances, Vasseur remarked, "Mercedes showed up on pace after being off in previous races. They committed to a strategy that worked from Friday morning." He noted that the choice of a more consistent medium tyre, employed successfully by pole-sitter George Russell and second-placed Max Verstappen, could have benefited Ferrari during qualifying.
Vasseur concluded, "There is more performance from using the tyres than there is between the cars. If we want to start from the first rows, we need to ensure smooth execution throughout the weekend."
This report underscores the urgency for Ferrari to address its execution issues as it seeks to regain competitiveness in the championship.
