Vasseur: The closer to the final, the more important the result

On Friday in Vegas, Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur spoke about the challenges in the remaining races…

Question: Fred, what are your plans for next year? When will Lewis Hamilton drive for the first time?
Frederik Vasseur: I think in 2025.

Q: Are you disappointed that Mercedes didn’t let him go to the tests in Abu Dhabi, like you did with Carlos Sainz?
Frederik Vasseur: I wanted to thank Carlos for his cooperation, so I didn’t limit it. I think he did a very good job and acted professionally. For me, the best way to thank Carlos is to give him the opportunity to test with Williams.

Q: Are you angry that Lewis can’t perform these tests on you?
Frederik Vasseur: No no. He has contractual obligations, so I didn’t even ask Toto to do anything.

Question: Last year Ferrari cars were very fast in Las Vegas. Do you feel even more confident now?
Frederik Vasseur: It’s not a matter of trust. You have to start over every weekend. The competition is very tight this season, the difference between first and fifth place is minimal. We know that track conditions are improving rapidly here. Last year we were very fast, but Verstappen won the race. This time I want to win on Sunday, not be the fastest in training.

Question: In the Constructors’ Championship you are 36 points behind McLaren. Who do you think has the advantage now?
Frederik Vasseur: This season Red Bull has dominated the first three or four races. Then we had a good series, in the summer with Mercedes, then again with McLaren and again with us. Everything is so tight that every weekend everything changes. It’s not a matter of momentum or anything else, but the fact that the last three stages will take place on circuits with completely different characteristics, in different weather, etc. And these factors will play their role.

I remember the weekend in Spa when Verstappen was faster in the first practice, McLaren in the second and Mercedes in the third. Then we started from pole position and Mercedes won the race. Four teams dominated one session over the course of one weekend. And I think it will remain that way until the end of the season. This means being in the right place at the right time. But it’s not a given that anyone will dominate the next four or five races.

Question: Are you happy with Ferrari’s progress this year?
Frederik Vasseur: Last year we won one race. This year – five, earning about 50% more points. We are certainly on the right track. But in the evening in Abu Dhabi, the position in the Constructors’ Championship will be important, not the statistics and other indicators.

The closer to the final, the more important the result. For us, the best approach now is to go from race to race, from session to session, without thinking about the championship.