Frederic Vasseur is focused on “Propelling” or push something forward. Ferrari beyond their third-place finish and solitary win in 2023, striving to position the team as contenders for the championship. During Vasseur’s inaugural season leading Ferrari, the team secured third place in the Constructors’ Championship and claimed a single Grand Prix victory in Singapore courtesy of Carlos Sainz. Notably, this win stood as the only race in 2023 not dominated by Red Bull, following Ferrari’s adjustment of their car design to mirror Red Bull’s downwash sidepods.
Vasseur emphasizes that beyond enhancing the car’s performance, Ferrari should also strive to emulate Red Bull’s strengths in trackside operations, reliability, and strategic decision-making.
He advocates for a more assertive and risk-embracing approach, similar to Red Bull’s ethos, aiming for continual advancement and a heightened level of competitiveness.
Vasseur stresses the importance of adapting to the evolving Formula 1 landscape, departing from past practices where top teams, such as Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes, easily progressed from Q1 to Q2 using a set of Medium tires.
He believes Ferrari needs to maintain an unwavering pursuit of excellence and a willingness to push boundaries, aligning more closely with Red Bull’s aggressive and boundary-pushing approach. This signifies a positive step forward for Ferrari under Vasseur’s guidance in their initial year
Ferrari’s 2023 Season in Review
Ferrari’s 2023 Formula 1 season was disappointing by the team’s own high standards. Despite moments of genuine pace — particularly in qualifying — the Scuderia struggled with strategic errors, reliability issues, and a car that proved inconsistent across different circuit types. Third place in the constructors’ championship and a single race victory represented significant underachievement for a team with Ferrari’s resources and history. Vasseur, who arrived from Alfa Romeo to replace Mattia Binotto, had been methodical in rebuilding the team’s infrastructure and culture, though the results on track did not yet reflect the work being done behind the scenes in Maranello.
Red Bull’s Blueprint for Dominance
Red Bull’s 2023 season was one of the most dominant in Formula 1 history. Max Verstappen won 19 races from 22 starts, and the RB19 was widely regarded as the most efficient and well-rounded car on the grid. Their aerodynamic philosophy, powertrain reliability, and pit wall strategy were all best-in-class. Vasseur was vocal about the need to study Red Bull’s operational model — not just their technical solutions, but their whole-team approach to performance, from design philosophy to execution and race strategy. Closing this gap was Ferrari’s primary objective heading into 2024 and beyond.
The Path Forward for Ferrari
With significant updates planned for the SF-24 and a restructured technical department, Ferrari entered 2024 with renewed optimism. The appointment of experienced engineers in key roles and a greater emphasis on simulator correlation should lead to a more predictable and consistent car performance across different track types. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz remained one of the strongest driver pairings on the grid, both hungry for championship success. If Ferrari could eliminate the strategic blunders that cost them in 2023, a genuine title challenge could be on the cards.