Down-to-earth Vasseur gets laughs with down-to-earth interview

Frederic Vasseur is in his first Italian Grand Prix as Ferrari team boss, and it seems to be going well for the Frenchman. Carlos Sainz was the fastest man in FP2 and FP3, so things are looking good for the Tifosi.

No points are handed out in practice sessions of course, but things are looking good for Ferrari on home soil this weekend. On the Monza circuit, Ferrari is doing better than expected. Their top speed is good. Sainz, in particular, is very fast over one lap, and Ferrari's race pace also looks good.

''We won't do the grid with FP2 or FP3. It'll be done on qualifying, and it's this afternoon when we have to put everything together. Not before. So far, it was good. The pace was okay. Even on the long stint yesterday, we did it pretty well. It's so tight, and it will be so tight this afternoon. We don't have to be relaxed. We have to be focused and get the best we can get,'' said a down-to-earth Vasseur. That attitude from Vasseur is causing hilarity among Sky Sports' crew.

For now, it is Sainz who is stealing the show for Ferrari while Charles Leclerc is still struggling with his car. Leclerc was on a fast lap but ended up in the gravel again for a while. That will have to improve in qualifying.

''For Charles today, Carlos is the reference. We would like Charles to be on the pace this afternoon. He was okay today, and the pace was there.'' Still, Sky also wonder how Ferrari are suddenly so competitive in Monza. But according to Vasseur, this is no big surprise.

''We struggled more at Zandvoort. It was already the case in Budapest, and we're in better shape in Canada, Austria and Spa. We are doing a bit better on the low downforce track, and this one is good,'' concluded the Ferrari team boss.