The team from Maranello had a challenging season in 2023, as their aspirations of competing for the championship faded due to race difficulties with their SF-23 vehicle.
However, with the guidance of new team manager Vasseur, the team has implemented various modifications to their infrastructure and car, which seem to have had a positive impact. This was evident when Leclerc achieved a podium finish at the recent Belgian Grand Prix.
In a private interview with Motorsport.com, Leclerc expressed his admiration for Ferrari’s swift response to the initial difficulties faced in the season.
And he has singled out the way that Vasseur in particular has helped address the historical problem of Ferrari being influenced too much by external criticisms, especially in the Italian media.
Leclerc explained that they were able to create a significant bubble without being heavily influenced by external factors, which is highly advantageous.
“I believe Fred quickly grasped the concept that the media could have some impact on the team in various ways in the past. This became a key focus at the start of the year.”
We made progress in that regard. Therefore, I no longer believe it to be true.
Certainly, there are certain instances that can be challenging to handle, but this applies to everyone in the paddock. However, it is worth noting that Ferrari tends to attract a bit more attention.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23
Photo by: Michael Potts / Motorsport Images
Back on the right path
Leclerc is no stranger to the letdown of this season, as he faced a challenging period in 2020 as well when Ferrari failed to meet its pre-season goals.
However, he believes that the current handling of matters has improved significantly, as Ferrari now possesses a clearer understanding of the path it must take compared to earlier.
“He stated that in 2020, the entire team experienced a situation where the outcomes did not meet their initial expectations.”
“It can be challenging, but I believe that during such times, maintaining a clear sense of purpose is crucial. It is quite effortless to stray from the right path when circumstances do not align with our desires.
Frequently, the issue does not stem from a single source but rather from multiple factors that slightly contribute to the problem. It is crucial to identify and address these specific factors without questioning everything else. I am confident that we have successfully addressed these issues this time.
He stated: “In 2020, I found it challenging to rediscover this path. However, right from the start of this year, I felt like we were back on track. And we are making progress in the correct direction.”
Ferrari’s attempt to overcome its difficulties in 2023 has been anything but simple, as it has been focused on addressing a unique feature of its car rather than a clear lack of speed.
Sprint pole winner Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari
Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Images
The SF-23 has proved to be super-fast in qualifying, with Leclerc having started from pole position twice this season. However, a lack of consistency in its performance has triggered tyre degradation issues that have often left Leclerc and Carlos Sainz on the backfoot in races.
Leclerc was asked if resolving this problem was more challenging than simply increasing downforce. He responded, “It appears to be intricate.”
“And, to be completely truthful, after completing the initial two races, you may feel a sense of confusion. During the qualifying rounds, we perform exceptionally well, but when it comes to the actual race, we encounter significant difficulties. It’s important to note that we are unable to modify the car, as it remains unchanged throughout.”
Once we grasped the key areas requiring improvement for enhancing our race pace, the path we needed to pursue became evident.
“It is a time-consuming process as improvement in F1 requires time. It is not possible to make significant progress overnight. We have made some advancements, but there are still more steps to be taken as the journey to catch up with Red Bull is still lengthy.”
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