“The Fight Is Today”: Ignoring Carlos Sainz Fiasco, Fred Vasseur Sets Eyes on the Prize

The 2022 season started like a dream for Ferrari. But just as quickly as it returned to the front of the field, Red Bull handed the Scuderia a reality check. One that’s in place more than a year later, too. From fighting against Red Bull for wins and podiums, Ferrari now has an intense, intra-team rivalry between Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. Yes, they aren’t fighting for the championship, but they are fighting for supremacy. That’s where the entire Ferrari fiasco started, and from the looks of it, it won’t stop until one of them finally comes out on top. 

Instead of focusing on that, Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur knows what’s at stake and is working toward achieving that. What is it? Beating Mercedes to P2 in the Constructors’ Championship. 

Carlos Sainz isn’t on Frederic Vasseur’s mind right now

There’s no doubt Leclerc and Sainz are two excellent drivers. With the duo on the same team, there was bound to be some tension, and it started boiling over at the Italian GP. Going into Monza, Charles Leclerc was usually the leading Ferrari in every race. That’s where Sainz staked his claim after getting tired of playing second fiddle. Sparks flew between the two in the race, so much so that Carlos Sainz Sr. got involved. After Carlos beat Charles to P3, Papa Sainz said, “It’s always my son who asks if he can attack. Carlos is always the one who has to understand why he can’t overtake if he’s behind. But when Leclerc is behind, the positions are not fixed.” 

Things have been tense at Ferrari since then. As much as the harmony between drivers is vital to the team, Vasseur knows the real fight is against Mercedes. Following Sainz’s win in Singapore and a P4 and P6 finish in Suzuka—Leclerc ahead of Sainz—Ferrari is just 20 points behind Mercedes. With six races to go, that position is all up for grabs. Considering how both teams started 2023, they’ve made tremendous progress in terms of development. In an interview with Motorsport, Vasseur was asked whether focusing on the SF-23’s development would affect 2024’s car.

“It is never a sacrifice because I believe that performance comes from performance. What we can do in the current because will help us for next year,” said Vasseur. The 2024 regulations are the same as the 2023 ones, meaning that whatever teams learn this year will help them in 2024. He added, “ We must not postpone the fight; the fight is today with Mercedes, and we have to face it. It is always the best way to prepare for the future, for everyone to be in the fight is crucial. We will maintain this fight until the end of the season.” [Translated by Google]

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The good thing for Vasseur is that his drivers are also working toward the same goal. But so is Mercedes, as revealed by Hamilton at the Japanese GP.

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton waged war on each others’ teams

F1 headed to Japan right after Singapore. Singapore was where Ferrari and Carlos Sainz shone and broke Red Bull’s winning streak. Understandably, the Scuderia came into the Japanese GP firing on all cylinders. During the Drivers’ press conference, Leclerc said, “The team has done an incredible job of being there at the right time. It’s a big boost for the team and the rest of the year.” He and Lewis Hamilton were then asked about their goals for the season.

The Monegasque said, “The best we can do is second place, and we’ll do everything possible to achieve that. All three teams [Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren] are super close. So, it should be exciting until the end of the season.” Hamilton responded to Leclerc, “Just like [Ferrari], we started off pretty poorly at the beginning of the season. Definitely didn’t expect ourselves to be second in the Constructors’ to now being relatively close and fighting in the Constructors’. I think it’s exciting for us as a team. And, of course, we want to beat them just as they want to beat us.”

The gloves are off between Mercedes and Ferrari. Who do you think will come out on top in 2023?

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