General
Vasseur remains realistic: 'Things are different when we look at Max'
There will be a Ferrari in pole position on Sunday and that was last the case in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix three months ago. Completely self-earned pole is not, due to Max Verstappen's grid penalty, but Frederic Vasseur is happy with qualifying, he hinted afterwards.
"Looking at our starting positions on the grid, it's a good result: first [for Leclerc] and fourth [for Sainz], very good. It was a complicated session, each time we only had one good lap the time it needed to happen," said Vasseur, who did see an eight-tenths gap towards the pole time. "When we look at Max's time, things are obviously a bit different. We will study the data tonight."
Vasseur does not want to cheer too early
With Verstappen starting from P6, there may be chances for Ferrari to move towards victory, but certainly a podium. Only twice in 11 GPs this season has a Ferrari finished among the top three on Sunday. The starting position is good, but the French team boss knows how close it is this year, even in the Ardennes.
"We have to stay calm, because if you are a few tenths slower here later, you go from a great result to a disastrous one," he warns at Sky's Italian branch. "We have to make the best of what we have and we did that today. We made the best of what we have and we also have to thank the drivers for the work they have done."