Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur can see an ‘opportunity’ to punish Red Bull if the Scuderia make one ‘small’ change that will put pressure on their Formula 1 rival.
Red Bull were the all-dominant team in 2023 as they almost produced a perfect season with 21 wins from 22 races. Only Ferrari would deny the Milton Keynes outfit perfection as Carlos Sainz won the Singapore GP. But Sainz plus Lando Norris of McLaren have now won in 2024.
Sainz won the Australian GP after Max Verstappen retired early on owing to a brake issue in March. Norris has also now joined F1’s winners’ circle after he beat Verstappen on the road at the Miami GP. The Red Bull ace had no answer for Norris’ pace after the safety car period.
Frederic Vasseur believes Ferrari can now ‘put pressure’ on Red Bull
Vasseur believes Red Bull failing to win two of the opening six Grand Prix in 2024 shows they are no longer in their ‘comfort zone’. Ferrari and McLaren can now force Red Bull into having to make aggressive strategy calls to win, rather than just letting Verstappen control his tyres.
Verstappen breezed to victory in 19 of the 22 Grand Prix last year with an average lead over second place of 12.162 seconds. He has even won four of the first six Grand Prix this season with an average lead over second place of 15.602s, plus 8.207s across the two Sprint events.
READ MORE: Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height
So, Vasseur admits that Red Bull still hold an advantage over Ferrari and the rest of the field. But if the Scuderia can perfect their strategy and set-ups for Sainz and Charles Leclerc, the chance is now there to win in a straight fight against Verstappen and Sergio Perez this term.
“I think Red Bull still have an advantage over the competition,” Vasseur noted, via quotes by Formule1. “If we’re able to do a good job and bring it all together, we’ll be there.
“It means that we are now back in a position where we can put some pressure on them and they have to be more aggressive with their strategy.”
Red Bull are no longer in their ‘comfort zone’ and can be punished
Vasseur even believes Ferrari can punish Red Bull in a direct fight if they make a ‘small step’ with the development of the SF-24. That could even come for the Emilia Romagna GP next, as Formu1a.uno claims Ferrari’s upgrades for Imola have exceeded the team’s expectations.
He added: “At Red Bull, they are no longer in the comfort zone of last season, when it didn’t really matter what happened. After the first or second round, they are already ahead.
READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
“I think reducing the gap is a game-changer in the management of the race. This is an opportunity for us. If we make one more small step, we will be in a very good position to fight with them every weekend.”
Ferrari will unveil the SF-24 ‘2.0’ with their Emilia Romagna GP upgrades
Formu1a.uno reports that Ferrari will unveil the SF-24 ‘2.0’ at Imola which can unlock three-tenths of a second per lap. The Scuderia will take new sidepod inlets and floor entries to the Emilia Romagna GP aimed at improving the F1 car’s aerodynamic efficiency and load points.
Ferrari’s upgrades at Imola will include a new engine cover with cooling vents that are more reminiscent of Red Bull’s, too. The Scuderia will also make minor changes to their front and rear wings. The Maranello natives believe their ‘2.0’ car will launch them closer to Red Bull.
The post ‘Game-changer’: Frederic Vasseur sees Ferrari ‘opportunity’ to punish Red Bull appeared first on F1 Oversteer.