Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has announced ambitious expectations for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton after the qualifying session at the Dutch Grand Prix. Both drivers qualified in strong positions, giving the team hope of securing a podium finish in Zandvoort on race day.
Vasseur, who has overseen Ferrari’s efforts through a challenging weekend at the Dutch circuit, expressed cautious optimism following qualifying. Despite difficulties earlier in the weekend, the Ferrari squad showed significant improvement, allowing both drivers to recover and place themselves well for Sunday’s race.
Ferrari’s recovery in qualifying boosts podium hopes
During Friday’s practice sessions, the Ferrari cars struggled to keep pace with rivals, resulting in a tough start to the weekend. However, the team made significant progress during qualifying, with Leclerc and Hamilton securing sixth and seventh places respectively. This marked a notable turnaround from their earlier performance difficulties.
Vasseur commented on the improvements:
“It’s not magic, but if you compare it with the result from Friday, it’s a huge step forward. It was, for sure, yesterday, the most difficult Friday of the last two or three seasons, and we had a good recovery today. We have to target the podium, for sure.”
—Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari Team Principal
With Leclerc and Hamilton positioned near the front of the grid, the team’s strategy will focus on capitalizing on their qualifying results to challenge for points and fight for a top-three finish during the race on August 31.
Charles Leclerc reflects on the challenges faced during qualifying
Following qualifying, Leclerc shared his thoughts on the weekend so far, acknowledging the ongoing difficulties the team has encountered. The Monaco driver described the car’s balance as problematic, which impacted his ability to deliver an ideal lap during qualifying.
Despite these issues, Leclerc remains hopeful about their race strategy and the chance to move forward once the race begins. He explained:
“It’s been a difficult weekend overall, which makes it tough to build up to the race in the way we want to. The balance of the car makes it tricky to drive and I didn’t put it all together in qualifying. It’s just that kind of weekend for us, but we may be able to play with strategy tomorrow. We’ll do everything we can to fight our way forward and bring home a good result for the team.”
—Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Driver
Leclerc has a strong history at the Zandvoort circuit, having previously finished on the podium there twice in recent years. His experience and previous success at the Dutch Grand Prix will be invaluable as he aims to secure another podium finish for Ferrari this weekend.
The potential impact of Ferrari’s performance at the Dutch Grand Prix
The performance improvement demonstrated in qualifying offers Ferrari renewed hope in a competitive season, particularly with drivers like Leclerc and Hamilton capable of pushing for podium standings. This event could serve as a turning point, boosting team morale and enhancing their championship prospects going forward.
The race at Zandvoort will test Ferrari’s ability to maintain momentum and convert their qualifying advantage into strong race day results. Success here could reinforce the team’s strategy and competitiveness as the Formula 1 season progresses.
