Ferrari’s Struggles in Canada Highlight Need for Improved Weekend Execution
Montreal, Canada – Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur has emphasized the urgent need for Ferrari to enhance its race weekend execution, citing Mercedes as a benchmark for improvement. The comments come in the wake of a disappointing performance at the Canadian Grand Prix, where Ferrari finished as the fourth-quickest team, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton placing fifth and sixth, respectively.
Ferrari’s weekend was marred by missed opportunities and missteps. Leclerc, who was unable to participate in FP2 after crashing in FP1, qualified eighth following a difficult session, while Hamilton secured fifth on the grid. Race day proved difficult as Hamilton suffered a performance setback after hitting a groundhog, while Leclerc found himself at odds with the team’s tire strategy.
"We can take some risks, but it was too optimistic to attempt a 50-lap stint on hard tires," Vasseur remarked, referring to Leclerc’s frustration over his two-stop strategy. "We were missing some laps to evaluate our options."
Despite the public attention on Leclerc’s discord with the team, Vasseur pointed to broader issues affecting Ferrari’s performance. "We showed promising pace, setting a purple sector time, but made too many mistakes throughout the weekend," he noted. “Mercedes improved significantly after recent struggles, while we failed to capitalize on our potential."
Vasseur acknowledged the team’s poor tire management choices, which hindered qualifying performance. "We need better tire usage and strategy from the start of the weekend. Performance gaps are minimal; it’s about executing the perfect weekend."
With the championship tightening, Ferrari faces the imperative of rectifying its execution to compete effectively with its rivals. "We’ve proven we can be competitive, but we need smoother operations to secure better starting positions," Vasseur concluded.
Key Race Results:
-
Qualifying:
- 1st: George Russell (Mercedes)
- 2nd: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- 5th: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- 8th: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Final Race Results:
- 1st: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- 5th: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- 6th: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
As Ferrari looks to regroup ahead of future races, the focus will need to shift toward strategic improvements and flawless execution to reclaim its position as a frontrunner in Formula 1.
