As Ferrari returns from F1’s summer hiatus and gears up for this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, Scuderia boss Fred Vasseur has emphasized the vital importance of qualifying in determining his team’s success at Zandvoort.
Ferrari enters the race weekend with a boost of confidence, having secured pole position last time out at the Belgian Grand Prix, where Charles Leclerc started from P1 following Max Verstappen's grid penalty.
The Monegasque went on to finish third after George Russell's disqualification, marking a significant achievement for the team after a period of struggles marked by the balance and porpoising issues impacting its SF-24 contender – a problem that resurfaced following an upgrade implemented last June in Barcelona.
Reflecting on the team's performance at Spa and looking ahead to the Dutch Grand Prix, Vasseur was clear about the challenges that lie ahead.
"Just before the summer break, the team as a whole performed well in the Belgian Grand Prix, securing pole position and a podium finish with Charles, which was a real confidence booster," he said.
However, Vasseur was quick to highlight the stark differences between Spa and Zandvoort.
"Now we go racing once again at Zandvoort, a completely different track to Spa, being short, narrow and twisty,” he added.
"Therefore, ensuring we do everything right, down to the last little detail, will be vital and qualifying will be especially important as overtaking is very difficult."
Vasseur’s comments underline the pressure on Ferrari to deliver a flawless performance in Saturday afternoon’s hot lap exercise, where even the smallest mistake could cost valuable grid positions.
©Ferrari
Currently, Ferrari sits third in the Constructors' Championship, 79 points ahead of Mercedes and 21 points behind McLaren.
With the field more competitive than ever this season, Vasseur knows that every point counts, and the team cannot afford to miss any opportunities.
"As always, we will focus on getting every last drop of performance out of our package," commented the Frenchman.
"That starts with identifying the best set-up as quickly as possible, as well as counting on those on the pit wall and the drivers making the right decisions at the key moments in qualifying and the race.
"Knowing how competitive the field is this season and given the nature of the track, it’s logical to expect the weekend to be fought out to the nearest hundredths of a second."
Vasseur's words serve as a clear reminder that success this weekend will hinge on precision, strategy, and, above all, a strong qualifying performance.
With the competition as fierce as ever, the pressure is on Ferrari to deliver when it matters most.
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