Frederic Vasseur emphasized the need for Ferrari to emulate Mercedes’ race weekend execution to be competitive in Formula 1 and secure wins. Despite Ferrari finishing as the fourth-quickest team in Canada, both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton struggled throughout the weekend, with missed opportunities and race execution errors being a common theme. Leclerc’s crash in FP1 and a disagreement with the team over tire strategies further compounded Ferrari’s challenges in Montreal.
Vasseur acknowledged that Ferrari made too many mistakes collectively, from Leclerc’s crash to issues in qualifying and race incidents. He highlighted the importance of understanding tire usage and selecting the right compounds for qualifying, an area where Ferrari may have faltered in Montreal. Vasseur also noted Mercedes’ ability to rebound and secure podium finishes after lackluster performances in previous races as a valuable lesson for Ferrari in terms of consistency and preparation for race weekends.
In retrospect, Vasseur conceded that Ferrari may have erred by not opting for the more consistent medium tires in qualifying, a decision that could have impacted their overall performance in the race. Looking ahead, Vasseur stressed the significance of committing to tire choices early in the weekend to optimize performance, an aspect where both Mercedes and Max Verstappen excelled in contrast to Ferrari and McLaren.
