Frédéric Vasseur spoke exclusively to the newspaper La Repubblica. Here is the transcription of the salient points of a chat from which the management policy of the French manager emerges and other interesting background on the negotiation that brought Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari. References, as normal, also to the Newey perspective and to the recent acquisitions of Loic Serra And Jerome d'Ambrosio.
In Imola Ferrari will debut with the first updates of the season. Have you tried the evolutions in Fiorano. Satisfied?
“It's hard to say beforehand. The truth is that the grid is so close that for a tenth you can make a huge difference in terms of starting and race positions. Any little thing we can bring can pay off, it's no longer like in the past that with an evolution you earn 7 or 8 tenths”.
“We're all chasing the details. The most important thing is to improve and stay ahead, no matter how much. I hope we are in the right direction and, although small, it is a step that helps us in the fight against Red Bull and McLaren”.
Is Ferrari struggling to get closer to the world champions or defend against McLaren?
“Both things. I am focused on ourselves, I think it is a mistake to look at others. A lot depends from track to track, but also on the good use we make of the car and the resources available”.
Would you be happy with a second place at the end of the World Championship?
“It's still early, after six races last year we were in no man's land in terms of performance, we managed to climb back up and it's important to maintain this trend and this pace. It will still be a long time until the end. We are second at the moment, you can be second after fighting or with regrets. This year we can fight for a victory every weekend and this is a good feeling, this is worth more than thinking about the World Championship”.
![Vasseur Ferrari](https://www.formulacritica.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/HAM-1-jpg.webp)
What will Hamilton bring to Ferrari?
“Fresh blood in the system. I know his professionalism, not that our drivers don't have it, but Lewis has a different vision of things and we can benefit from that. With Fernando Alonso he is one of the most experienced drivers on the grid, the most successful, he has the greatest experience on the field and also in winning championships. It will certainly bring speed on the track but not only. He will also contribute with his knowledge outside the car on how to approach the weekend. He is someone who knows how to put pressure on the team with the aim of achieving excellence. This will push us a lot. And in any case we must remember that we are now looking at the details. Any particular or single contribution can make a difference”.
How difficult was it to convince him?
“Honestly, not difficult at all. I think he's had this in mind for ages, and maybe this year for several reasons, including the fact that he had the option to leave Mercedes, that we had a seat available and a good relationship, it was the right time for each of us. All the planets have completely aligned for once. I think it's a good opportunity for him, for us”.
Has your relationship with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff changed?
“No, it's still ok. When I arrived in F1 ten years ago, we knew that at a certain point we could have been competitors on some issues and it would have been a problem for the personal relationship, but it is also true that until now we have never been direct rivals. Last year, our first battle on the track, but we have always tried to separate the business from the private. It's not always easy, in this sport it's complicated to completely divide things.".
![](https://www.formulacritica.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Ferrari-3-750x375.webp)
What pairing will Hamilton-Leclerc be?
“I never ask my pilots to be best friends or to go on holiday together, I don't do it with my colleagues to work better. There is only a need to have a frank relationship full of mutual respect, I think this is established between the two, I don't see clouds in the sky. They've already started to get a little closer in these last two months, it's a training period like a honeymoon. I'd say so far so good".
Was it difficult to say goodbye to Sainz?
“It wasn't easy, I have absolute respect for Carlos. It was hard to come to this decision, but I think Carlos' reaction was super professional, he has great respect for Ferrari, we agreed to stay focused on the season and do our best to push until the last corner of the season. last lap because it was in the common interest”.
In China there was some friction between Sainz and Leclerc. Has something broken between them?
“I would say no. They have always been more or less side by side at every grand prix, it's the positive and negative of having two excellent riders, at the same level. For me it's useful, because there is a sort of permanent emulation on the pitch. They are both very competitive, every two races I have to talk to them and calm them down but for me this is more of a pleasure, they both care about the team”.
![Ferrari Sprint Race China](https://www.formulacritica.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ferrari-2-750x375.webp)
Leclerc had some difficulties in a couple of qualifying sessions, is he worried about that?
“For nothing. It happens that riders can have more complicated races, it also happened to Carlos. No panic, normal fluctuations”.
Charles will have a new race engineer from this race onwards, Bryan Bozzi replacing Xavi Marcos. Why is this change taking place?
“Because we are in a continuous process of improvement, we wanted to take this step, it was an internal promotion with Bryan who comes from the team, he knows Charles very well and they have a good relationship, he is part of the development of the team as are the others. We have just made it official that Loic Serra and Jerome d'Ambrosio will arrive from Mercedes from October 1st. All additions to strengthen the team”.
Will Ferrari also take Adrian Newey?
“Adrian is a reference for all of Formula 1 for his experience and his palmarès, he is perhaps the one who has the most experience of all. Having said that, I believe much more in the group than in individuals. Part of the success always comes from the power of the collective, in the fact that everyone knows and is convinced of the role they have in the system, I will always be the one who will push on the importance of this thesis”.
Do you have memories of Senna?
“On the day of his death, I was in Magny-Cours: it seems like a century ago, there were no communications like today, no one could believe the news, unimaginable. I remember Ayrton in action, maybe it was at Le Mans in 1984: the name of the track was Alain Prost".
Is there anyone who looks like him today?
“Hamilton, Leclerc, Verstappen… The exposure of drivers today is enormous, social media has a huge impact and Formula 1 is in splendid shape. It's impossible to make comparisons”.
Crediti foto: Scuderia Ferrari