(Motorsports news) In the four races since the summer break, Ferrari has passed Aston Martin for third place in the constructors’ title and reduced the distance to Mercedes in second place from 56 to 20 points, while Carlos Sainz became the season’s first non-Red Bull winner in Singapore.
Ferrari, like other teams, has already turned its wind tunnel work to its 2024 car, but Vasseur claims that the Ferrari will continue to chase Mercedes while putting no effort into next year’s program. “You don’t have to postpone the fight, the fight is with Mercedes today, and we have to take it,” the Frenchman responded.
“It’s always the best way to prepare for the future, for the team’s mindset, for everyone to be in the fight.” And Ferrari will fight till the end of the season. It’s never a sacrifice,” he remarked, “because I believe that performance comes from performance.” It’s too late for this season to get into the wind tunnel, but what we can accomplish with the present car will benefit us next year.”
Ferrari installed a new floor at Suzuka, one of the final big upgrades for the SF-23s as they make their way from the tunnel to the circuit. Vasseur, on the other hand, downplayed its relevance in the light of the team’s improved tyre degradation.
“However, I believe this will continue until the end of the season.” Ferrari won the pole position in Monza for one hundredth, last week in Singapore for five hundredths, something like that, [in Japan] we lost the first row for five hundredths, and the remainder of the season will be a question of hundredths.” Vasseur emphasized that the squad has been doing well for a long time, even before the current modifications.
“We have also to avoid drawing too quick conclusions,” he stated. “We were in good shape before the break in Spa, but Charles Leclerc started fourth.” He was supposed to be on the front row, but he began from pole position and raced well. “Because it’s a matter of hundredths of seconds, when you take a small step, you get the impression that everything has changed.”
“It’s not exactly the reality, and it varies from race to race and track to track.” Even the drivers’ setups are sometimes more suited to Carlos or Charles. “It’s a sport, and you can accept that one team is doing a better job than the others from weekend to weekend.” And I believe we have healthy competition, which is also helping us to progress.”
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