Vasseur: “Disappointed” for not giving Ferrari a podium in Monza

Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur expressed his disappointment after failing to achieve a podium for the fans at the Italian Grand Prix last Sunday.

Despite showing a promising pace in practice at Monza, Charles Leclerc qualified and finished in fourth position in Ferrari’s home race. Lewis Hamilton, for his part, recovered from a grid penalty to secure sixth place, starting from tenth position.

Leclerc finished the race four seconds behind Oscar Piastri’s McLaren, who took third place, but 25 seconds behind the winner, Max Verstappen.

I think today is a shame and I am disappointed not to be able to bring a podium to the Tifosi, because when you see the fans on the starting and finishing line and the podium, it would have been magical and they deserve it.

Fred Vasseur

Vasseur also highlighted that the differences were minimal throughout the weekend, not just in practice.

Vasseur pointed out that the team was close to McLaren. “I think Max was outstanding,” he added. “From the first lap to the last, he was there, flying, and he was much faster than us. But overall, I think that compared to Mercedes and McLaren, we did our job. It’s not enough, but we did our job.” Vasseur emphasized that the margins were adjusted throughout the weekend, not just in practice. “I think yesterday we were a tenth of a second off the front row of the grid,” he said. “Even if you play differently with the engine modes, fuel and so on, we’re talking about 3-4 kilos of fuel, we never know this.” “But it’s also true that even in the race it’s the smallest difference with McLaren, it was also the smallest difference in FP3, the smallest difference in qualifying, in FP1, and I think we’re in better shape this weekend.” “It’s not enough because they are ahead of us, but I think we at least shortened the distance this weekend.”