2023 Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team

[Vanja #66]

Red Bull approached Charles Leclerc to explore potential Ferrari departure

Specifically, discussions have taken place with Lando Norris, who Helmut Marko has described as “the best young driver on the grid,” and Charles Leclerc, a highly significant and unexpected candidate considered by the Anglo-Austrian team. Talks with Charles Leclerc occurred in late May to explore the potential for a separation from Ferrari.

This strategic approach mirrors what Aston Martin has previously undertaken in anticipation of Fernando Alonso’s eventual departure, as they too sought a top-tier driver.

Consequently, Fred Vasseur has prioritized securing Charles Leclerc’s contract renewal for the past few weeks, leaving Carlos Sainz in a state of uncertainty. Unofficially, it appears that Sainz has not taken the situation well.

[codetower]

Team boss Frederic Vasseur admits that Ferrari was afraid of tire degradation and therefore acted too cautiously: "We probably still had the first races of the season in mind and were far too conservative with tire management today and didn't push enough," says the Frenchman. "I think we could have pushed a little more."

According to him, the misconception comes from Friday, when Leclerc missed the second practice session due to an electrical defect and was unable to collect long run data.
That's why in the first stint you were afraid of the breakdown and went into the pits too early in a duel with Russell. Looking back, Vasseur would not do it again. "In retrospect, you can just say that we could have stretched it a bit and pushed more," says the team boss.

"But where we lost the most with Charles was the stint on Hard. We did ten or twelve laps before the safety car came. We didn't have any degradation at all and he could have pushed a lot more," admits Vasseur. "We misunderstood the dismantling."

https://www.motorsport-total.com/formel ... t-23071107

IMO Ferrari is failing to take advantage of a huge opportunity. When you are 4th on the grid, there is no need to be so apprehensive in your risk taking. I understood some of the missed calls last year when you were fighting for 1st after being out of the mix for so long, but cmon, what is there to lose at this point? What are they afraid of? They are 100 points ahead of the team behind them. Forget Red Bull, no "Team" is even going to match Verstappen alone this year. Now is the time to take risks and learn. The upside is much greater than the down.

[chrstphrln]

Team boss Frederic Vasseur admits that Ferrari was afraid of tire degradation and therefore acted too cautiously: "We probably still had the first races of the season in mind and were far too conservative with tire management today and didn't push enough," says the Frenchman. "I think we could have pushed a little more."

According to him, the misconception comes from Friday, when Leclerc missed the second practice session due to an electrical defect and was unable to collect long run data.
That's why in the first stint you were afraid of the breakdown and went into the pits too early in a duel with Russell. Looking back, Vasseur would not do it again. "In retrospect, you can just say that we could have stretched it a bit and pushed more," says the team boss.

"But where we lost the most with Charles was the stint on Hard. We did ten or twelve laps before the safety car came. We didn't have any degradation at all and he could have pushed a lot more," admits Vasseur. "We misunderstood the dismantling."

https://www.motorsport-total.com/formel ... t-23071107

IMO Ferrari is failing to take advantage of a huge opportunity. When you are 4th on the grid, there is no need to be so apprehensive in your risk taking. I understood some of the missed calls last year when you were fighting for 1st after being out of the mix for so long, but cmon, what is there to lose at this point? What are they afraid of? They are 100 points ahead of the team behind them. Forget Red Bull, no "Team" is even going to match Verstappen alone this year. Now is the time to take risks and learn. The upside is much greater than the down.

Yes!

[AR3-GP]

Red Bull approached Charles Leclerc to explore potential Ferrari departure

Specifically, discussions have taken place with Lando Norris, who Helmut Marko has described as “the best young driver on the grid,” and Charles Leclerc, a highly significant and unexpected candidate considered by the Anglo-Austrian team. Talks with Charles Leclerc occurred in late May to explore the potential for a separation from Ferrari.

This strategic approach mirrors what Aston Martin has previously undertaken in anticipation of Fernando Alonso’s eventual departure, as they too sought a top-tier driver.

Consequently, Fred Vasseur has prioritized securing Charles Leclerc’s contract renewal for the past few weeks, leaving Carlos Sainz in a state of uncertainty. Unofficially, it appears that Sainz has not taken the situation well.

It would be disastrous for Ferrari. Norris unlikely to leave Mclaren. Alonso likely to retire. Hamilton likely to retire. Who is left?

[Alonsismo]

Red Bull approached Charles Leclerc to explore potential Ferrari departure

Specifically, discussions have taken place with Lando Norris, who Helmut Marko has described as “the best young driver on the grid,” and Charles Leclerc, a highly significant and unexpected candidate considered by the Anglo-Austrian team. Talks with Charles Leclerc occurred in late May to explore the potential for a separation from Ferrari.

This strategic approach mirrors what Aston Martin has previously undertaken in anticipation of Fernando Alonso’s eventual departure, as they too sought a top-tier driver.

Consequently, Fred Vasseur has prioritized securing Charles Leclerc’s contract renewal for the past few weeks, leaving Carlos Sainz in a state of uncertainty. Unofficially, it appears that Sainz has not taken the situation well.

It would be disastrous for Ferrari. Norris unlikely to leave Mclaren. Alonso likely to retire. Hamilton likely to retire. Who is left?

Dont bet on alonso retirement.
i really think that he will race on 2026 and 2027. and... maybe even more years.

[jambuka]

Red Bull approached Charles Leclerc to explore potential Ferrari departure

Specifically, discussions have taken place with Lando Norris, who Helmut Marko has described as “the best young driver on the grid,” and Charles Leclerc, a highly significant and unexpected candidate considered by the Anglo-Austrian team. Talks with Charles Leclerc occurred in late May to explore the potential for a separation from Ferrari.

This strategic approach mirrors what Aston Martin has previously undertaken in anticipation of Fernando Alonso’s eventual departure, as they too sought a top-tier driver.

Consequently, Fred Vasseur has prioritized securing Charles Leclerc’s contract renewal for the past few weeks, leaving Carlos Sainz in a state of uncertainty. Unofficially, it appears that Sainz has not taken the situation well.

It would be disastrous for Ferrari. Norris unlikely to leave Mclaren. Alonso likely to retire. Hamilton likely to retire. Who is left?

Russell, Piastri, Albon

[jambuka]

Team boss Frederic Vasseur admits that Ferrari was afraid of tire degradation and therefore acted too cautiously: "We probably still had the first races of the season in mind and were far too conservative with tire management today and didn't push enough," says the Frenchman. "I think we could have pushed a little more."

According to him, the misconception comes from Friday, when Leclerc missed the second practice session due to an electrical defect and was unable to collect long run data.
That's why in the first stint you were afraid of the breakdown and went into the pits too early in a duel with Russell. Looking back, Vasseur would not do it again. "In retrospect, you can just say that we could have stretched it a bit and pushed more," says the team boss.

"But where we lost the most with Charles was the stint on Hard. We did ten or twelve laps before the safety car came. We didn't have any degradation at all and he could have pushed a lot more," admits Vasseur. "We misunderstood the dismantling."

https://www.motorsport-total.com/formel ... t-23071107

This is pretty symbolic. As Senna once said, "“If you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver.”. Ferrari has stopped being a racing team and is afraid of taking chances these days.

[Vanja #66]

It would be disastrous for Ferrari. Norris unlikely to leave Mclaren. Alonso likely to retire. Hamilton likely to retire. Who is left?

Doesn't look like Vasseur will let it happen, does it?

[codetower]

It would be disastrous for Ferrari. Norris unlikely to leave Mclaren. Alonso likely to retire. Hamilton likely to retire. Who is left?

Doesn't look like Vasseur will let it happen, does it?

I sure hope not.

I know it's a long shot, but if Sainz does end up leaving for Alfa/Audi I wouldn't mind seeing Ricciardo in that #2 red seat.

[LM10]

Charles has said numerous times that he does not think of leaving Ferrari. He wants to win the title with Ferrari and believes to succeed there in the future.

[MTL79]

Given how far back this team is from being a contender, I would think Leclerc would probably not be interested in spending some of his best years with them trying to rebuild unless he has confidence in some of the engineers joining the Scuderia from other teams.

It's a bad situation all around unfortunately.

[Vanja #66]

In Miami it looked like Ferrari are not even going to jump ahead of Merc, let alone AMR. At that point, it didn't look like Leclerc, or anyone else, has any other option for a title other than Mercedes - since Red Bull is taken.

Right now, they made a mess of Silverstone race, but the car is still 2nd fastest of Top 4 teams. So things changed for the better and they keep changing. If the trend continues to be positive, it might again look like Ferrari is the best chance for a title other than Red Bull...

[codetower]

Given how far back this team is from being a contender, I would think Leclerc would probably not be interested in spending some of his best years with them trying to rebuild unless he has confidence in some of the engineers joining the Scuderia from other teams.

It's a bad situation all around unfortunately.

The thing is, where does he go? The only contender right now is RB... and he'd go there to be a #2, battling Verstappen. I think thats a higher risk than staying here. Mercedes has been the last year and a half and are no closer to #1 than Ferrari. Aston is dropping off a bit lately, McLaren looks promising, but it's only one race. And again, I cant see them pushing Lando to be a #2, And Piastri is not doing too bad.

There's really no sure thing at the moment, I think Ferrari is his best spot right now. The fans love him, Ferrari love him, and they have more money than any other team. Where could he go?

[AR3-GP]

It would be disastrous for Ferrari. Norris unlikely to leave Mclaren. Alonso likely to retire. Hamilton likely to retire. Who is left?

Doesn't look like Vasseur will let it happen, does it?

We'll see. With Leclerc and Verstappen at RB, no one would win a championship outside RB for many years to come. An utterly repulsive thought.

In all seriousness, it's very unlikely that Leclerc will leave Ferrari.

[LM10]

Given how far back this team is from being a contender, I would think Leclerc would probably not be interested in spending some of his best years with them trying to rebuild unless he has confidence in some of the engineers joining the Scuderia from other teams.

It's a bad situation all around unfortunately.

Ferrari’s problem is not the lack of competent engineers, but the lack of a healthy and structural leadership. If the big bosses don’t stop intervening in matters they don’t have a clue about (for example car development or pit wall management etc.), not much will change.

The hope I have is that Fred manages to change this culture.