Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur.
Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur and 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve got a little tense in their post-qualifying conversation after a double Q2 elimination for the Scuderia in Canada.
Ferrari went into qualifying with work to do after a final hour of practice which saw Charles Leclerc their highest finisher in P10, but with the track grip and pecking order continuing to evolve, while the threat of rain lingered, the battle for pole was wide open.
Fred Vasseur gives spiky reply to Jacques Villeneuve
Ferrari, unfortunately, wouldn’t be in the running for pole position. Both Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were unable to qualify for Q3 as they couldn’t meet the requirements on their last attempts using worn soft tires.
Vasseur spoke to Sky F1 after qualifying, with Villeneuve, who was working as a pundit for the broadcaster this weekend, sharing that “at the beginning of the weekend, I firmly believed that Ferrari would…”.
At that moment, Vasseur interjected to interrupt Villeneuve and assert: “Yes, but there are occasions where you make mistakes.”
Afterwards, Villeneuve expressed, “However, I firmly believed that you possessed all the necessary elements for success. This circuit seemed tailor-made for Ferrari, with its abundance of slow-speed corners, change of direction, and yet, it didn’t yield the desired outcome.”
Villeneuve inquired Vasseur if the recent resurfacing of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix, along with the track temperatures, could have played a role in Ferrari’s elimination during Q2.
Vasseur responded, stating that new asphalt is identical for all individuals.
The conditions, with the heavy rainfall and cold weather, are quite challenging and make it hard to function properly. However, these circumstances should not be used as an excuse.
Everyone is subject to the same conditions, which we must all face and address.
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Vasseur clarified that Ferrari’s decision to use used soft tyres for their final Q2 run was not a calculated risk that backfired; rather, it was due to the unavailability of another new set.
“He clarified that we no longer had a new set available, as the last one was obtained for Q3.”
Except for Mercedes, who only put one set on Q1, we are all facing the same situation.
Leclerc, who started at the front in his previous race in Monaco, will now start at P11 for the Canadian GP, while Sainz will start at P12. However, Ferrari still holds hope as rain is predicted once again for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Vasseur highlighted that the weather forecast for tomorrow is unfavorable, indicating the possibility of a turbulent race. Nonetheless, he reassured that the race pace was satisfactory.
“Tomorrow, let’s assess the situation and strive to perform at our best despite the challenging conditions. Even when things aren’t going smoothly, we must remain opportunistic and aim for maximum points.”
George Russell of Mercedes and Max Verstappen of Red Bull created history by setting identical lap times in the fight for pole position, marking only the second occurrence in Formula 1 history. Russell emerged as the ultimate victor, securing the honor.
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