Vasseur after Miami: 'Red Bull are still ahead'
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No second victory this year for Ferrari in Miami, but Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen were beaten for the second time this season. Lando Norris won with McLaren last weekend and that makes Frederic Vasseur optimistic. It is another confirmation for the Ferrari team principal that the RB20 is beatable.
Ferrari saw Charles Leclerc finish third and Carlos Sainz - after a penalty - finish fifth in Florida. It has continued to be interchangeable between the Italian formation and McLaren this season. Can these two teams attack world champion Red Bull together? Is Miami a preview of what we can expect for the rest of the year?
"I think honestly that Red Bull is still ahead. Probably that Max could have won today without the story of the safety car," Vasseur said. The fact that Red Bull was the strongest in sprint qualifying and qualifying on Friday and Saturday also says something, according to the Frenchman. "That means that I don't want to draw any conclusion. I don't want to draw any conclusion on this. But it's in the pole position that it means that they have still a small advantage."
Fighting with Red Bull
Vasseur continued: "What is true is that compared to one year ago when we are able to do a good job and to put everything together, we are there. It means that we are putting them a little bit under pressure."
Whereas at times last year it was two fingers crossed for Red Bull, that is no longer the case in 2024. "They have to take, to be a bit more aggressive with the strategy. They are not anymore in the comfort zone of last year when last year that doesn't matter what's happened. After Lap 2, they were in front. And it's, I think it's a game changer in the management of the race. And this is an opportunity for us because if we are doing another small step, I think that we will be really in position to fight with them every single weekend."