Ferrari is preparing to introduce updates for its Formula 1 car over the next two race weekends, specifically for the Austrian and British Grands Prix, as the team aims to improve its performance.
Following Mercedes` recent victory at the Canadian Grand Prix, Ferrari now stands as the sole team among F1`s traditional top contenders without a win this season. The Italian squad has struggled with consistency throughout race weekends with their SF-25 car.
In Montreal, Charles Leclerc finished fifth, and Lewis Hamilton secured sixth place. Hamilton commented after the race that the team was “really in need of an upgrade” to challenge the front-runners more effectively.
While not confirming the exact race for their introduction (either Austria this weekend or Britain on July 4-6), team principal Frederic Vasseur confirmed new parts are on their way. However, he was quick to point out that upgrades are not the main area where he feels the team needs to focus its efforts.
“We will have an upgrade soon, before the UK, and perhaps another one a bit later,” Vasseur stated.
“But, honestly, I think there is much more in execution and what you get from the car, than the potential of the car itself,” he added.
Vasseur explained that at this stage of the regulations, any improvements from new parts are likely measured in “hundredths rather than tenths” of a second. Conversely, he noted, “if you don`t use the car well, you lose tenths.”
He acknowledged that teams, including Ferrari, often need “one or two races to adapt the car to the set-up of the new version” after introducing upgrades.
“I want to put the focus on the team much more on the execution than on the pure potential of the car. But we will bring something,” Vasseur reiterated.
Lewis Hamilton had previously told Sky Sports F1 in Canada, “We are really in need of an upgrade and there`s lots of things that need to change for us to compete at the front.” He mentioned expectations of an upgrade for Austria but wasn`t certain about its significance, concluding it felt like “one of those years.”
Vasseur: “We have to do a better job” – Key to Ferrari`s Improvement
Vasseur admitted that Ferrari had “failed massively” in perfectly executing their race weekend in Canada. He sees execution, particularly regarding tire usage, as absolutely crucial for the team to overcome its current inconsistent form.
When asked about their outlook for the Austrian Grand Prix at the medium-speed Red Bull Ring, Vasseur referenced their decent pace shown previously, like being quick in sector one in Barcelona and performing well in Monaco.
“Even before the weekend,” he said, “you have to put everything together in the right place if you want to achieve a good result. In the tire usage and the tire performance, I think there is much more in that, than between the cars.”
“It doesn`t matter about the car, if the team is doing a very good job on the tyres, they will be in front,” Vasseur insisted. He cited Canada, Monaco, and Imola as examples of this phenomenon. “It is what it is and it will be like this until the end of the season but it`s the same for everyone and we have to do a better job.”
