Ferrari boss hints at 'hidden' SF24 updates to steer clear of "mess" rivals are experiencing
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Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur has hinted at ‘internal’ upgrades within the Italian side that have helped the team steer clear of the “chaos” some Formula 1 rivals face after introducing new elements.
Ahead of the United States Grand Prix in Austin, where Scuderia Ferrari secured a dominant one-two finish with Charles Leclerc on top ahead of his Maranello teammate Carlos Sainz, the team was one of only two on the grid that didn't introduce visible performance upgrades for the race weekend at the 5.513-kilometre Circuit of The Americas in Austin.
In contrast, key competitors such as Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes all brought new components to the race. However, teams have generally been cautious about introducing upgrades this late in the Formula 1 season due to the risk of disrupting the car’s balance and having to relearn how to maximize performance with the changes.
Mercedes, in particular, struggled with its new parts for the W15 single-seater, with both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton experiencing high-speed spins at Turn 19. George Russell even had to revert to the previous spec after damaging his upgraded components.
When asked whether Ferrari’s stable platform over the sprint weekend contributed to its success, the French manager hinted that behind-the-scenes improvements, which don't need to be officially disclosed, have played a key role in the Maranello team’s resurgence.
“When you speak about upgrades, it is what we are declaring, that it is only aero. But performance is not only in the external shape of the car. We are at the point in development now that when you are bringing something, we are speaking about tenths of a second [in pace], and you have much more to do with the set-up.” – Fred Vasseur explained at the end of the United States Grand Prix in Austin – “It is true when the team is bringing something that perhaps sometimes it is a step forward in terms of performance, but it is also creating a bit of a mess in the set-up. It is not always a step forward. But it is not that because we are not declaring something, that we are not bringing something. We have to declare the upgrades on the external shape, but it is not that because we are not declaring something, that we are not bringing something.” – the Ferrari team boss concluded.
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