“If something has to come, it will come”: Ferrari F1 boss insists on focusing on the present instead of dreaming of the championship

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has downplayed the chances of being able to fight Red Bull for the constructors' title this season. Speaking to media including Sportskeeda in Monza, the Frenchman felt that the sprint weekends ahead on the calendar will open up opportunities to close the gap to Red Bull.

Ferrari is only 64 points behind Red Bull whereas McLaren is 46 points behind, in the constructors' championship. Both teams have the opportunity to narrow the gaps to the leaders in the next two to three races on the calendar. Commenting on the potential of the same, Vasseur appeared to downplay his team's chances despite Red Bull’s drop in form around the Monza circuit.

Asked about the points gap to Red Bull and a shot at the championship, the Ferrari team principal said:

“I didn't pay attention to the championship, and I won't pay attention to the championship. I think we just have to do a good job to do the best every single weekend, and if something has to come, it will come. But the worst, I think, would be to be focused on the championship, to be conservative, to do this kind of approach, because on the same weekend, for details, you can move from P1-2 to 7-8, for strategy, for tire management, for whatever the reasons. And this can change massively from one weekend to another one. A good weekend, it's 43 points. Soon we'll have weekends with the Sprint race. It means that you can score 55 points a weekend. I think we have still something like 500 points on the table.”

---

Ferrari team principal refused to conclude podium finish in Zandvoort was a sign of progress

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur believes that the podium in Zandvoort and the front row start from Spa are not enough to conclude that the team is progressing. He felt that the pack at the front was very close and it was important to focus on performances from weekend to weekend. At Zandvoort, both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were able to finish ahead of the Mercedes drivers.

Asked if the podiums in the last two races are signs of consistency with the car, the Ferrari team principal said:

“Yeah, but we were on the podium the weekend before also. And we even started from the first row, on the pole position in Spa. But I think what Toto said before is that for very small details, you can do a huge step forward or backwards on the grid or in the pace of the race, because we are all [with]in two-tenths. OK, except Lando in Zandvoort! But behind Lando, it was very, very tight.

"And you have to avoid to draw a conclusion on the pace overall or whatever that this can change from a weekend to another weekend or even from a session to the session. In Spa, you had Red Bull dominating FP1, McLaren FP2. We did the pole on Saturday. Mercedes won the race on Sunday. It means that we have to keep this in mind and just to be focused on your job and to avoid to conclude too quickly.

Ferrari have scored 370 points in the constructors' championship and are 34 points behind McLaren in second. Leclerc is third in the drivers' championship while Sainz is fifth.

The Maranello-based team brought a heavily upgraded SF-24 to the Monza circuit. Most of the upgrades on the car seemed to have worked well as both their drivers were consistently strong in all three practice sessions. At a circuit that has historically suited them well, the scarlet-hued team might well be looking to impress the ‘Tifosi’ at its home circuit at the Italian GP.