RaceFans Round-up: Ferrari cannot be “too optimistic”

In brief

Ferrari cannot be “too optimistic” – Vasseur

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur says it is important for his team not to get ahead of itself with its aspirations for the 2024 season.

The team finished a distance second to Red Bull in 2022 but were even further behind in third place last year, Vasseur’s first season in charge of the team.

“I don’t know if it will be better this year,” Vasseur said. “Nobody knows.

“At the end of the day to make comparisons and we are just focused on ourselves and trying to do the best. I don’t want to be too optimistic I think this was one of the issues we had last season. We just have to focus on what we are doing and not to think about the outcome of the championship before race one.”

RB “not a junior team anymore” – Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo insists that his RB team are no longer a junior team heading into the new season.

Ricciardo, a former Red Bull driver, says that the team formerly known as AlphaTauri are “going in the right direction.”

“Honestly, everything I’ve fed back to the team, I feel like they’ve actioned or done their best to make it happen or make it work,” Ricciardo continued. “So I honestly can’t ask for too much more at the moment.

“I feel like this is not a junior team anymore. And I think with a lot of plans for next year, hopefully we can prove that on track and get more points.”

Qatar tyre problems could lead to changes – McCullough

The tyre damage problems that struck last year’s Qatar Grand Prix could result in another in-season tyre construction change, suggests Aston Martin performance director Tom McCullough.

Pirelli introduced a new construction of tyres at the British Grand Prix last year. The Qatar Grand Prix in October was marred by damage believed to be caused by kerbs around the circuit.

“What we know at the moment is that the tyres aren’t changing for the start of 2024,” said McCullough. “They can change during 2024, as they did this year. Obviously with one eye on Qatar last year, there’s talk of changing kerbs and stuff – maybe the tyres will change before then as well, who knows. That’s up to Pirelli.”

Links

Motor racing links of interest:

‘Most need 150km to get used to F1, Verstappen needed a lap’ (BBC)

”I remember Max at the Norisring at 16 years old. It was wet and…