Frédéric Vasseur hails Ferrari's "best qualifying of the year"

Interviewed on Canal+ at the end of the session this Saturday, the Team Principal of Classic Ferrari for sale was satisfied with the collective performance signed by Charles Leclerc et Lewis HamiltonFrédéric Vasseur's two men are in second and third place on the starting grid for the Grand Prix (21 p.m. French time), and if the raw result was better in Hungary with a pole position, this time the manner was there.

"Overall, it's the best qualifying (here in Mexico), especially since in Budapest it was a bit of a struggle. Here, we were always in front, in Q1, Q2, and Q3. Both cars are there, so yes, it's the best qualifying of the year. All the strategists prefer to be second and third here, but I would have preferred to take pole position anyway (laughs). Almost more for the satisfaction of doing it. Afterwards, it's true that there's a very long distance to the first corner, it's very often the slipstream that counts. But we'll see on Sunday. It's already important for us to have taken a step forward."

The Scuderia Ferrari boss is referring to the very long straight leading to the first corner, which often offers a significant advantage to drivers starting from second, third, or even fourth on the grid. As in all Grand Prix races, the engineers and drivers keep in mind the starts of previous years, but without drawing up a very precise plan. A start is, above all, improvisation.

“We always do it (look at starts from previous years) but it’s more to open our minds a little bit. It never goes as planned or as the book says. It’s a bad approach to have a plan until Turn 1. We don’t know if Norris will go straight ahead or turn right. We'll see at the time."

Apprehension and hope

While Ferrari's season is not necessarily at the level that the end of 2024 suggested, the Scuderia is still in the fight for second place in the constructors' standings, with only seven points behind Classic Mercedes for saleA start at the forefront in Mexico is a source of hope, even if the characteristics of the Mexican track mean that nothing is ever decided.

"We're approaching (the Grand Prix) like everyone else. It's very hard on the brakes, on the engine, and it's especially hard when you're in traffic. I'd rather be second than sixth or seventh, but I think there will be a real advantage for the first at the end of the first lap. Afterwards, we're in clean air, we don't need to do as much lift and hill climbing, which is often a decisive advantage."

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