Giuliano Salvi (Ferrari): "We have a winning mentality"

How did you approach this race starting from pole position?

Starting from the front row gave us a good starting point, but we knew it wouldn't guarantee us victory. It was crucial to manage the race very carefully, minimizing risks. Imola is a circuit where one mistake is enough to lose a lot of positions, and we saw that with the #50 car. We therefore opted for a tire management strategy, seeking to maintain the lead while waiting for rain forecast for later in the day. In the end, the rain didn't materialize, but the strategy of the Car #51 performed well. Had we known the conditions would remain dry, perhaps we would have adjusted some elements of our approach towards the end.

With the No. 50 car, the situation seemed more complex due to a poor qualifying. What kind of challenges did you encounter with it, and how did you adjust your strategy?

Indeed, the No. 50 encountered some difficulties. From the start, we had to improvise and adapt our strategy to the situation. The start was crucial, and although the car had good potential, some things didn't go as planned. This is where the ability to react quickly makes all the difference. We had to push harder to recover the lost positions, and that's exactly what we did. The flexibility of the team and engineers was essential.

Regarding tire management, the unexpected change to the left side has been the subject of discussion. What was the logic behind this decision, and what motivated it?

The left-side tire change wasn't anticipated at the start, but it became necessary as the race progressed. When the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) was deployed, it gave us a window of opportunity to make the change without compromising our position. You have to seize these opportunities, because if you miss them, you risk losing places. It was the best decision.

You mentioned the VSC. How has it impacted the strategy?

The VSC played an important strategic role for us, but it didn't have the same effect for everyone. For example, car 83 (Kubica-Ye-Hanson, editor's note) had problems with the left tire, which put them in difficulty. They had to revise their plan, which affected their performance. For our part, we reacted well, taking advantage of the opportunity offered.

After two consecutive victories, how do you perceive the dynamics of Ferrari this season? Can this advantage remain so pronounced throughout the year?

Good question. For now, we're happy with the results, but we mustn't forget that in motorsport, everything can change very quickly. For example, in Qatar, we were a little surprised by how easily the race went, even though we knew Cadillac would be a strong team. Without their accident (The two Cadillacs collided under the Safety Car. Editor's note), the race would have been very different. At Imola, Toyota made a great comeback at the end of the race. And we must not forget the strength of teams like Alpine or BMW. We remain focused on the work that needs to be done to maintain this shape.

Ferrari is positioning itself as a title contender. What does this ambition mean for the entire team?

At Ferrari, there is no Plan B. The objective is clear: to win the championship. We know the road ahead will be difficult and fraught with pitfalls, but the team is ready. We have enormous respect for our competitors, but at Ferrari, we have a winning mentality. Of course, it's rare to win a title in the first few years with a new car, but we are convinced that we can and must fight for the title this season. The key is to continue evolving, learning, and refining every detail to stay on top of things.

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