The Canadian Grand Prix proved to be a pivotal moment for the Ferrari team. With both drivers failing to make it into Q3 during Saturday’s qualifying and recording a double DNF in Sunday’s race, Team Principal Fred Vasseur expressed his concerns. However, he remains optimistic that the toughest parts of the season are now behind them.
Ferrari #F1 team boss Fred Vasseur conceded "everything went wrong" in a disastrous #CanadianGP, but says his squad won't overreact to its horror weekend. ⬇️https://t.co/7BhbH5snT6
— Motorsport.com (@Motorsport) June 10, 2024
“The pace was strong on Friday,” the Team Principal said after the race. “The conditions were tricky yesterday and I think a couple of cars had the same issue.
“But we were quite confident with the pace for today. At the beginning everything went wrong, and I hope that we put all the tough, s***** parts of the season on the same weekend!”
Despite the setbacks, Vasseur maintains confidence in the team’s pace. He acknowledged that the conditions were tricky, but the initial optimism quickly unraveled.
The Weekend’s Struggles and Ferrari’s Frustrations
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc encountered engine issues early in the 70-lap race, leading to his eventual retirement on Lap 43. Carlos Sainz, on the other hand, struggled to make ground in the midfield and suffered damage after contact with Valtteri Bottas. A late-stage spin further compounded Sainz’s woes, resulting in his retirement as well.
Leclerc voiced his frustrations during the race, especially when fighting in a group. The lack of grip and horsepower made overtaking impossible, leading to understandable motivation difficulties. Vasseur empathized with Leclerc’s feelings, recognizing the strain such situations can create.
He said, “Sometimes [you can] have the feeling that everything is going wrong and everything is going against you, but we won’t change our approach. We are working as a team with the drivers in the good and the bad moments, and we will keep the same approach for next weekend.”
As Ferrari regroups, Vasseur revealed that they made a “sacrifice” before the Canadian GP. While new upgrades aren’t immediately forthcoming, the team remains focused on recovery. The next race presents an opportunity to bounce back and continue their championship fight.
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