Frederic Vasseur and the George Russell penalty
Frederic Vasseur didn’t search for loopholes to safe Ferrari’s first podium of the season as he spoke to Sky after the 2025 Bahrain GP. The Ferrari group principal didn’t ask for a penalty for George Russell, which might have promoted Charles Leclerc (who completed lower than 5 seconds behind the Mercedes driver) to 3rd place:
“George Russell misplaced the transponder, so there have been no lap occasions or GPS, and so they needed to deactivate the automated DRS system, which he then needed to handle manually. He opened the DRS, and I believe it was a mistake on that lap, as a result of there was nobody in entrance of him… However I don’t suppose they’ll penalize him as a result of it was a small acquire and he didn’t do it on objective.”
Ferrari’s technique evaluation
Past the stewards’ issues, Frederic Vasseur additionally commented on Ferrari’s race technique:
“I believe Mercedes was very aggressive, and even Russell stated it was one thing daring. It actually was and it stunned us. However the Security Automotive didn’t assist us as a result of it got here out proper after we had been the quickest on observe, nevertheless it went the way it went. What would we’ve got performed? It relied on the tempo, but when we had maintained what we had till then—robust and constant—we may have prolonged the stint after which fitted Softs.”
“The issue,” added the Ferrari pit wall boss, “is that when the Security Automotive got here on the market had been 24 laps to go, and it was too dangerous to go for Softs. Beginning on Mediums after which utilizing one other set of Mediums meant that ultimately we may select between Hards and Softs relying on tyre degradation. It was probably the most versatile technique, as a result of if degradation was excessive, we may go for Hards, in any other case Softs in case of low tyre put on.”
“I don’t know if it was the very best we may do,” he concluded relating to race ways, “as a result of after we determined to increase the primary stint, we wished to have a bonus within the last section with brisker tyres, however the Security Automotive took away that benefit. However that mustn’t be an excuse, it’s what it’s, you’ll be able to’t predict the Security Automotive and you’ll’t complain when it comes out.”
The brand new flooring doesn’t make the distinction
Frederic Vasseur additionally spoke about Ferrari’s efficiency after introducing its improve bundle:
“The place is Ferrari? We’re the place we’re, and I believe it’s clear to everybody that McLaren is a step forward. In some situations, like within the second stint of the race, we’re proper there. However general, on common, they’re 2 or 3 tenths quicker than us—possibly extra in some stints, possibly much less in others. However the benefit is in that vary, and we’re battling with Mercedes and Purple Bull. That’s how it’s. I believe the state of affairs can change from observe to trace and session to session, however for now we’re within the group with Purple Bull and Mercedes.”
“New flooring? Sure, however we’ve got to mood expectations,” he added, “as a result of we’re speaking about a couple of hundredths of a second. The important thing issue for efficiency throughout the entire paddock proper now’s tyres and tyre administration. And Jeddah is sort of the other of Bahrain as a result of it’s a observe the place you are able to do ten qualifying laps on the identical set.”
Frederic Vasseur defends Lewis Hamilton
The ultimate remark was about Lewis Hamilton’s disappointing weekend, regardless of a stable comeback within the race:
“I perceive the frustration, as a result of in Free Follow 1 and up till Q2 he did an amazing job—one lap he was forward of Charles, the subsequent behind. Then in Q3 he misplaced his first run (attributable to observe limits) and within the second try he made a mistake and certified ninth. Immediately he had a great race; he completed forward of Max Verstappen and different automobiles that had been in entrance of him. However if you happen to begin that far again, it will get robust,” concluded Ferrari group principal Frederic Vasseur.
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