Frederic Vasseur has revealed that Ferrari made a ‘sacrifice’ the Formula 1 team are working to recover before the Canadian GP but new upgrades are not forthcoming.
The Scuderia unveiled their latest new parts with a major overhaul of the SF-24 at the Emilia Romagna GP. Designers in Maranello opted to re-optimise their package on home soil. Their work ultimately laid the foundations for Charles Leclerc to win the Monaco GP next, as well.
Ferrari have now won two of the first eight events ahead of Formula 1 flying back across the Atlantic for the Canadian GP. Leclerc also stood on the podium the last time F1 visited North America for the Miami GP in P3. While Carlos Sainz returned to the rostrum in Monte Carlo.
Frederic Vasseur warns Ferrari may not bring any more upgrades before the British GP
Leclerc finished on the podium with another P3 in the Emilia Romagna GP after Ferrari took their upgrades to Imola. The Scuderia unveiled a new radiator inlet more akin to what Red Bull have run this year. They even reshaped their sidepods, diffuser, floor edges and wings.
But Vasseur admits that Ferrari are still trying to recover the qualifying pace they ‘sacrificed’ with the initial design of the SF-24. The Maranello natives sought to give Leclerc and Sainz a more complete race car. Although Vasseur is confident of Ferrari fighting in the Canadian GP.
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The Scuderia team principal feels Ferrari’s package should suit the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve’s mix of slow corners and long straights. But Leclerc and Sainz face waiting until the British GP in July, at the earliest, to get Ferrari’s next set of upgrades as Vasseur balances the factors.
Vasseur told Gazzetta dello Sport: “In Miami, Imola and Monte Carlo – three very different circuits – we were competitive. It means that this is the current potential of the car.
“This also gives me confidence for Canada, a track where you have to go well in the slow corners, on the kerbs and in [terms of your] top speed on the straight.
“This year, we sacrificed something in qualifying to be stronger in the race. We are also continuing to develop the car and will try to bring other updates as soon as possible. I don’t know if [it will be] at Silverstone or later, it depends on the progress they will guarantee us.
“It does not just depend on the production pace but on the budget cap and the choice of the most favourable races in which to introduce them.”
Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc will hope the early Canadian GP weather forecasts hold
Leclerc will hope to share Vasseur’s confidence heading into the Canadian GP after having to recover his weekend last year in the race. The Monegasque would only qualify in P11 as the Scuderia dithered to allow him to return to the pit lane for slick tyres as the track dried out.
Sainz also only qualified in P8, before starting in P11 owing to a three-place grid penalty for impeding Pierre Gasly in Q1. The Spaniard would also recover through the field to secure a P5 finish. But Sainz left himself on the back foot after crashing during FP3 in wet conditions.
Potentially lucky for Sainz and Leclerc, the early weather forecasts for the 2024 Canadian GP are for dry conditions. The only early threat of rain arrives on Saturday night but should not affect any of the sessions. Ferrari will hope to have a clean weekend in Montreal this season.
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