Formula 1
Ferrari cannot repeat F1 mistake of "too high" expectations for 2024 - Vasseur
Ferrari Formula 1 boss Fred Vasseur has cautioned against a repeat of setting expectations "too high", but believes it can build on its late-season progress to aid its 2024 campaign.
Filip Cleeren
Edited: Dec 3, 2023, 12:52 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
After being the only team to put Red Bull under pressure in 2022, there was optimism in the Ferrari camp that would be able to draw level and fight for the title.
But the Scuderia received a blow at the start of 2023 when it turned up with a car in Bahrain testing that fell short of those expectations and struggled on race pace – especially on hot, high-downforce circuits.
And while team principal Vasseur thinks the team can take courage from how it stabilised its performance across different circuit types in the latter part of the year, in which it was the only team to keep Red Bull from a clean sweep of 22 race wins, he warns against a repeat of its 2023 optimism.
"For sure, I think the level of expectation was a bit too high at the beginning of the season," Vasseur said. "We understood quickly the situation after a couple of laps in Bahrain and even a couple of laps into the simulator before Bahrain.
"But what I would keep in mind this season is the reaction of the team. We had a tough moment but remember after Jeddah, Miami, Spain or Zandvoort, Zandvoort is not so far away and we were almost lapped.
"I think that we, compared to Zandvoort, collectively made a huge step forward and this is good for the future. It's on this progression that we can build for next year."
Photo by: Ferrari
Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal and General Manager, Scuderia Ferrari
Rather than making evolutionary changes, Ferrari has banked on an all-new car design for next season to address its weaknesses from the ground up.
But while drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are hopeful of a closer fight in 2024, the spectre of Red Bull moving its focus to next year before the other top teams is one that cannot be ignored.
"I don't know if it will be better next year, nobody knows," Vasseur added. "But you know what you are doing in your business and it is always a matter of comparison.
"If you can make up one second and the others are doing 1.5s then you look stupid. But if they do five-tenths then you look like a hero.
"I don't want to be too optimistic because it was probably one of the issues we had last season.
"We just have to be focused on what we are doing and not think about the outcome of the championship before it is won or to look at the prize-giving ceremony before Bahrain."
Read Also:
Formula 1Wolff praises "sportsman" Leclerc for not 'pulling the handbrake' in F1 Abu Dhabi GP
Formula 1Hamilton admits to self-doubt, says Abu Dhabi 2021 prompted F1 retirement thoughts
Formula 1AlphaTauri to address side effects of low-speed F1 prowess with 2024 car
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Sargeant continues with Williams for 2024 F1 season
Next article F1 safety car: What is it and how does it work?
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Filip Cleeren
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 d
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
More from
Carlos Sainz
What the Brazilian GP revealed about F1's ability to cope with rain
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
3 d
What the Brazilian GP revealed about F1's ability to cope with rain
Williams has better cooling vests than anyone – Alex Albon
Formula 1
Formula 1 26 d
Williams has better cooling vests than anyone – Alex Albon
More from
Ferrari
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 d
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
F1 2026 calendar update: Imola GP off the table, no plan B if war escalates
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
4 d
F1 2026 calendar update: Imola GP off the table, no plan B if war escalates
Latest news
The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 3 h
The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season
‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 4 h
‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
BMW "proud of what we achieved" after securing runner-up in 2026 WEC
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
5 h
BMW "proud of what we achieved" after securing runner-up in 2026 WEC
The numbers that reveal how sprint races have turned the MotoGP title fight upside down
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
7 h
The numbers that reveal how sprint races have turned the MotoGP title fight upside down
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe