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Vasseur on Sainz Leclerc clash big fan Italian Grand Prix 2023

Vasseur after Sainz-Leclerc clash at Monza: 'Big fan of letting them race'

3 September 2023 at 16:28
Last update 3 September 2023 at 16:30

Ferrari certainly had an eventful race in their home Grand Prix at Monza. Both Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc defended fiercely against the two Red Bulls throughout the race, and they also raced each other hard for the last podium spot.

Team principal Frederic Vasseur said that he likes racing between his drivers on track. "It was a strange feeling, but I am a big fan of letting them race. It was a great feeling. I told them no risk, the notion of no risk is always relative. Hope the fans appreciated the last laps. We will have a discussion after the race, perhaps not tonight but tomorrow," the Frenchman told Sky Sports after the race.

Vasseur continued: "Success [this race], no. We’re racing for one-two. The pace of the Red Bull was better than us. We did our best and I’m quite happy with the result today."

'Copying Red Bull won’t work'

Vasseur also said that Ferrari’s main aim for the rest of the season is to become a stronger team rather than focusing on the Constructors’ Championship. "I’m not focused on the championship. Our focus is to do a better job. I hope we can have better pace in Singapore than what we’ve had on high downforce tracks so far. Copying Red Bull makes no sense because you can’t take a part and fit it on Ferrari or Mercedes, it won’t work. It’s difficult to say and no because I don’t know what Red Bull are doing but the most important thing is to focus on ourselves and try to improve the car. We know where we are weak," he concluded.