Motor racing: Ferrari's only target is the title, says new boss Vasseur
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Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc pits during the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix on Nov 20, 2022.
PHOTO: AFP
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LONDON – Ferrari have everything they need to succeed and will be chasing this season’s Formula One title with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz starting on equal terms, said new team boss Fred Vasseur.
Vasseur, who joined from Swiss-based Alfa Romeo on Jan 9 as Ferrari’s fifth boss in less than a decade, told reporters via Zoom in his first media call since taking over that the target was obvious.
“I think when you are a top team, you can’t have another target than the win,” said the Frenchman, 54.
“You can’t start the season (saying), ‘OK I will be happy with P2’. It would be a lack of ambition and I think we have everything to do a good job and the target has to be to win for sure.”
Ferrari, the sport’s oldest and most successful team with 16 constructors’ crowns, have not won one since 2008. The last of their 15 drivers’ title was won by now-retired Kimi Raikkonen in 2007.
They finished a distant second last season to Red Bull,
Vasseur said strategy was not just about “the guy who is at the top of the iceberg” and the team was in process of reviewing everything and he recognised improvement was necessary.
He said, however, it would be “arrogant” to shake up the technical organisation or try to change the culture after just two weeks in the job as replacement for the departed Mattia Binotto.
“We have discussions to try to understand how we could improve the system, what could be the weakness of the system and to try to do a better job,” he explained.
“But it’s more continuous improvement than big steps or big changes that from my point of view wouldn’t make sense.
“I trust the guys in place and will try to do the best for them also and to put them in the best conditions to do the job.”
Leclerc raced for Vasseur at Sauber, as well as in junior categories, but he played down speculation the Monegasque would be favoured over Sainz.
“The target is to win for Ferrari. There will be no No. 1 and No. 2 but if at one stage we have to take action, I will take action. It doesn’t matter if it’s for one or the other,” Vasseur said.
Leclerc, 25, won three races in 2022, and took nine pole positions, as he finished second behind champion Max Verstappen.
Spaniard Sainz, 28, claimed his first win in Formula One at the British Grand Prix and finished the season fifth overall. REUTERS
