Wasser: We are committed to continuing the progress

At the end of the season, the Ferrari team took third place in the Constructors’ Championship, losing only slightly to Mercedes, only three points. But despite the defeat, Scuderia head Frederic Vasseur believes there are many positive aspects.

Charles Leclerc did everything he could to help the team. In the closing laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he tried to hold off George Russell, who was behind him, and even let Sergio Perez go ahead, knowing he had been given a lead. However, a 5-second time penalty was not enough and the Mercedes driver was ultimately classified third. While Lewis Hamilton finished in 9th place, the points scored by Mercedes were enough to remain in 2nd place in the team standings.

“We could have been a little more aggressive when we tried to slow Russell down,” said Vasseur after the finish. “But on the other hand, we also wanted to end the season on a positive note. This was important to the team. It was the right choice.

We are pleased that Charles performed with great confidence at the end of this far from easy season. Unfortunately, things have taken a turn for the worse for Carlos Sainz since Friday and it’s a shame he couldn’t earn three points for the team, but we haven’t lost second place in the Constructors’ Championship yet.

Of course it is not interesting to be the second Ferrari, but still this result would be a reward for everyone who has worked hard on the track, and for those who have worked selflessly at the base in Maranello since the moment the SF-23 went to the circuit for the first time. the circuit in Fiorano.

But we can all be happy with how we responded and how we played in the second part of the season. After the Dutch Grand Prix we made continued progress and became the only team outside of Red Bull Racing to win the race.

The season finally ends on Tuesday when the tests are over, but we are already starting to prepare for the next one. We are determined to continue the progress we have shown in previous races.

To keep up with Red Bull, we are not going to completely revise our project. This team is doing better in many ways, while we are losing something due to reliability issues and other issues. But because we have taken some steps in the right direction closer to the championship final, we will try to keep this spirit and this approach next season, and then we will see how everything turns out.

I am convinced that everyone will be even more focused on success, and that we will gradually be able to understand all the necessary nuances on which victories depend.”