P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Vasseur: Ferrari has clawed back 50% of its 2023 Bahrain F1 deficit
In the 2023 season-opener, Carlos Sainz finished fourth, 48.0 seconds behind winner Max Verstappen, showing improvement from last year when he trailed Verstappen by 25.1 seconds in third place. Team principal Vasseur highlighted the smaller gap as a sign of the team’s progress compared to the previous season. Despite some positive aspects like Charles Leclerc’s performance, Vasseur expressed mixed feelings about Ferrari’s race weekend, citing issues including brake problems that need to be addressed. While Ferrari has improved in certain areas such as tire performance, the pace difference to Red Bull remains a concern for the team moving forward. Vasseur emphasized the competitiveness in the field, acknowledging that the tight margins in Formula 1 require continuous development and adaptability from the team.
