Frédéric Vasseur's arrival at the Scuderia Ferrari marked a strategic turning point for the Italian team, with a clear vision for the 2024 season. As soon as the following press conference opened SF24 presentationVasseur skilfully tackled the questions about Lewis Hamiltonunderlined the importance of this new recruit to the team. "Lewis' arrival is a great opportunity, and he will bring added value for the future. We now want to concentrate fully on 2024," he declared, adding that Ferrari's ambition to make a name for itself next season.
The performance of the drivers, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, was also at the heart of the discussions. Vasseur says he is confident in the motivation and full support for Sainz until the end of the seasonwhile acknowledging the long and fruitful relationship with Hamilton. The balance between these two talents, he believes, is crucial to boosting competitiveness within the team.
Technical advances are another key aspect of Ferrari's preparations for 2024. By focusing on handling, a weak point of the previous season, the team has made significant progress. Vasseur stresses the importance of continuous testing and fine-tuning, particularly through the positive experience of the Zandvoort weekend, which marked a turning point in the car's development.
Negotiations with Charles Leclerc were swift and straightforward, reflecting a solid relationship and mutual trust. Vasseur stresses the importance of always aiming for improvement and never being satisfied with the status quo in order to remain competitive. Ferrari's approach is clear: each team member contributes to overall performance, a philosophy that Vasseur strives to instill on a daily basis.
Faced with Red Bull, Ferrari is not content with just aiming for a few victories, but also aspires to seriously compete for the championship. Improved race management and internal communication are crucial to achieving this goal. The dynamic between Sainz and Leclerc, despite the announcement of Sainz's future departure, remains positive, with both determined to work in the interests of Ferrari.
Vasseur rejects the idea of a 2024 season as a transitional year. With meticulous preparation, a strong team and a clear vision, Ferrari is determined to prove its competitiveness from the very first Grand Prix in Bahrain. For Vasseur and Ferrari, 2024 is a year of determination, with the ambition not only to win races, but also to make their mark on the championship.
Fred Vasseur is a genuine guy who knows how to assess his professional entourage on a human level. Now that he (Ferrari) has the potential to organize an efficient structure, we may finally see the rebirth of the Scuderia. He has the energy to attract the best around him. Binotto was false and presumptuous, and his duo with Camilleri did a lot of damage. Hamilton's arrival is already the precursor of this renewal. I'm just sad that one of Ferrari's finest F1 cars, the SF-75, didn't enjoy the glory of a title.
We'll see during the championship.