The time has come for all 10 F1 teams to show their strength.
And, according to Ferrari team boss Frédéric Vasseur, the Scuderia must not be afraid to go big when the time comes.
The 2024 F1 season begins this week with the Bahrain Grand Prix, where pre-season testing took place last week. Ferrari were one of the strongest teams a week ago, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. both topping the timesheets at various points throughout the three-day test. When the dust settled last Friday, Ferrari led 1-2 for the entire week, with Sainz leading the way and Leclerc following.
But lap times really matter this week and the C4 compound used by both Ferrari drivers will not be available this weekend.
Still, Vasseur is confident heading into this year.
“After the SF-24 completed seven race distances during testing and all teams drove towards their own programs, it was finally time for everyone to step up. From free practice on Thursday, we We will start to understand the standings and see the results of the work that we and the other teams have done,” Vasseur said at the team’s media preview.
“Charles and Carlos felt comfortable behind the wheel of the SF-24, which is exactly what we were trying to achieve when we designed it. If we believe that bold decisions will make a difference when it comes to our performance, we should not be afraid to make bold decisions,” added Bassour. “The car looks competitive, Charles and Carlos are in great form, the team atmosphere is very focused and we are determined to get a good result.”
Matteo Toninari, the team’s head of track engineering, also summarized the three-day test from his perspective.
“Of course, three days of testing is obviously not enough to understand and optimize a new car, but it gives us an overall first impression. It was good, which was definitely a positive,” Togninari said.
“On the track, the car behaved the same way as in the simulation sessions we had with both drivers. We were also able to see how the car reacts to different changes, both in absolute terms and compared to 2023.” added Togninari. “This is very important for optimizing the package and using various tools to help with future development. The drivers said that the car handled well and was stable in a variety of conditions. It’s one of the goals we set for ourselves and it will help us in terms of race pace and tire management.”
Like Vasseur, Toninari believes the first race of the season will be a close one.
“Overall, we don’t expect the situation to be that different from what we saw at the end of 2023. The reigning champions and other close rivals all show good potential,” Tognari added. “While we cannot determine the standings at this stage, the gap between the teams will probably be reduced to just a few tenths of a second.”
