F1 News
Ferrari are ever closer on Red Bull's heels: Here's why
- Ludo van Denderen
Not a Ferrari - as the previous two times Red Bull Racing failed to win a Grand Prix - but a McLaren finished first at the previous race in Miami. A minor setback, although the Italian team still go into the weekend in Imola feeling good. For their own exuberant Tifosi and with some sweeping updates on the cars, there is hope (even expectation) that Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz can pose a serious threat to Max Verstappen this weekend.
Little by little, Ferrari is managing to narrow the gap to the Austrian team and its star driver Verstappen. According to Leclerc, this is mainly thanks to one person: team principal Fred Vasseur. "I think Fred's vision and his ability to put the people in the right environment in order to extract the best out of everyone is something really, really amazing, and that has made the difference," stated the Monegasque about the last two seasons under the Frenchman.
'Ferrari know where the focus should be'
"And together with a very clear vision on which are the main points in which we need to focus on. Again, it's very, very clear which are the points that needs to be improved and tackled in the next few months, and that helps the team. It helps the team to have a clear vision and to really put all the energy on one or two things only, but then you really see the gain straight away, which is a good thing," Leclerc said.
In short, if Leclerc had to sum up what Vasseur has added to Ferrari so far, it is: "Clarity and putting the people in the best environment possible to extract the best out of them."