Fred Vasseur has revealed they will take an “aggressive approach” at the Australian Grand Prix to try and put pressure on Red Bull
The energy drink brand arrives at the Australian Grand Prix of the season with an ‘immaculate’ start making them leaders of the championship. Ferrari on the other hand has proven to have the second best car in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, but there is still improvement needed to be able to fight with Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez.
This is exactly what Frédéric Vasseur wants to do in Albert Park. The Frenchman wants to be in the fight with the RB20s, and to do so they will need a change of approach. “After a busy start to the season, with back-to-back races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, we have now made the longest trip of the year to Australia,” said Vasseur. Coupled with that, he said “The Albert Park track is one of the drivers’ favorites and where Ferrari has always had a lot of support. We hope to be in the front zone on this track, which could have a grid order similar to that seen in Jeddah.” “We intend to take an aggressive approach with the aim of putting pressure on the team that won the first two races,” added Frédéric.
Carlos Sainz confirms he will get in the car for tomorrow’s free practice sessions
Carlos Sainz has confirmed that he will get into the SF-24 tomorrow for the first two Free Practice sessions of the Australian Grand Prix. The Spaniard, who underwent appendicitis surgery on March 8 in Jeddah, is feeling much better after a difficult first week. However, he said he will test himself this Friday and after knowing his sensations he will make a decision for the rest of the weekend.
Yesterday Carlos went to the Albert Park circuit to take a bike ride for track knowledge purposes and with the intention of getting on the SF-24 for the two free practice sessions. Sainz has confirmed this information in the interviews previous to the Australian GP. The Spaniard reveals that, every day, the sensations are much better and, After a hard first week he is beginning to feel recovery.
Mercedes will “test” in the Australian Grand Prix to end the problems of the W15
The Silver Arrows are in a difficult spot again with their car. In addition to the last two years the concept is still not easy for the Brackley-based squad. In like manner, they will run setups and test drives in Albert Park in order to learn more about the car. This has been confirmed by the head of track engineering, Andrew Shovlin. Some changes that will be planned for the Australian Grand Prix, where they will try to change the course of the situation to, at least,
get closer to Ferrari.
The porpoising has once again made an appearance in the Brackley team’s cars, and that has been one of the main problems in recent months. Furthermore, the weaknesses shown in high-speed corners compared to the rest of their rivals has penalized them greatly in Saudi Arabia.
So they need a new approach to continue the perfection of the W15.
“There is definitely data that we are collecting from Jeddah,” he acknowledged in words reported by Motorsport. “We are also analyzing the data from the Bahrain race, from the Bahrain tests, and we will put together a plan on how to approach Melbourne free practice. But we will not only base ourselves on what we did in Jeddah,” he said. Mercedes is also in need of making a good impression. They claimed soon enough in the year they will need to make a decision of which driver will replace Lewis Hamilton when he joins Ferrari in 2025.
Albert Park is a very different track to what we have seen in Bahrain and Jeddah
The track that used to open the championship brings massive importance for both top speed and downforce. In addition to that, the difficult setup configuration will be harder thanks to Pirelli. The Italian tyre brand will bring the softest compounds to track and will “spice” strategy increasing speed and degradation.
In conclusion, the Australian Grand Prix promises a shift in strategy as Ferrari looks to challenge Red Bull’s early season lead. Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur acknowledges Red Bull’s flawless start but emphasizes their intent to be aggressive and fight for the win.
European fans will need to wake up early to watch the race. F1 Fans will set their alarms at 05:00 AM CET on Saturday night. In addition, both the Japanese and Chinese Grand Prix will be on an early morning schedule for Europeans. Although, it will not be as dramatic as Australia with the Japanese Grand Prix starting at 7:00 AM CET and the Chinese Grand Prix at 9:00 AM CET.
The unique Albert Park circuit adds another layer of intrigue fans desperately need in order to see if Red Bull can be challenged. The track demands both high speed and downforce, while Pirelli‘s softest tire compounds promise a strategic battle with increased pace and degradation. This combination of a resurgent Ferrari, a struggling Mercedes, and a demanding track with strategic possibilities sets the stage for a thrilling Australian Grand Prix.
Guillermo Lorenzo Manzano
