Fred Vasseur gives a ‘logical explanation’ as to why Ferrari is not able to win with the SF-23

Ferrari are set to bring in upgrades to the SF-23 after the summer break.

Fred Vasseur gives a ‘logical explanation’ as to why Ferrari is not able to win with the SF-23

Fred Vasseur (Credits: Motorsport Week) and the SF-23 (Credits: Formu1a.uno)

Ferrari has been struggling to get out of the middle-order rankings this season. Charles Leclerc has only managed to get three podiums and is in fifth place in the WDC standings. Recently, Ferrari chief Fred Vasseur revealed the troubles they are facing with their car, the SF-23.

Vasseur explained that while they have performed well in qualifying, the same cannot be said for the final races. He even said that they performed better than Red Bull on certain occasions. He explained that the difference in their predicted and actual lap time is much greater in the race than in qualifying due to the lack of race pace.

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“If you analyze the data, in qualifying we are 0.2% behind Red Bull, sometimes 0.4% but on some occasions we did better than them (in Baku, for example). The delta in the GP it is instead much greater, so all the difference is manifested in the race pace,” Vasseur told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Vasseur said a possible explanation for their current predicament is that the SF-23 is difficult to drive. He explained that while taking risks is easy on a single lap, it is not possible during all-out racing as it is an aerodynamic issue with the car, which causes it to lose performance.  

“A logical explanation is that the Ferrari is difficult to drive: on a single lap you can take risks and keep it to the limit, in racing it is not possible and performance drops. It is an aerodynamic matter,” Vasseur added.

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Fred Vasseur gives clarification on Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari rumours

Fred Vasseur and Lewis Hamilton
Fred Vasseur and Lewis Hamilton (Credits: Sky Sports)

Lewis Hamilton’s contract runs out with Mercedes at the end of the 2023 season, one year early to when Charles Leclerc’s and Carlos Sainz’s contracts run out with Ferrari. Amidst many rumours linking Hamilton to Ferrari, Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has straightened out their position in the saga.

Vasseur said that he shares a good relationship with Hamilton and talks to him at every grand prix, which always stirs up the media. He said that he never compares Hamilton to either Leclerc or Sainz, and that a driver’s contribution to the team is more than just driving.

“I talk to him at every grand prix, he raced for me twenty years ago and we’re still close. Clearly if they see us together in the paddock a fuss comes out. I don’t want to compare him to our drivers, it wouldn’t make sense,” said Vasseur.

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