Frederic Vasseur, the head of Ferrari, says the team will not change their strategy even though they`ve had a disappointing first few races in the 2025 Formula 1 season.
In the Japanese Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc finished fourth and Lewis Hamilton came in seventh, which was Ferrari`s best result this season so far. However, they are still far behind McLaren in the constructors` championship, with a 76-point gap.
It seems that a double disqualification in China has forced Ferrari to adjust their car`s setup, making it less effective on the track.
Leclerc felt he did the best he could in Japan, starting and finishing fourth. Still, he admitted it`s not ideal to be 16 seconds behind the winner, Max Verstappen.
Vasseur pointed out that Ferrari has started seasons like this before. He said they shouldn`t change their approach because last year, they were in a similar or even worse situation in terms of speed, but the team reacted strongly and improved.
He added that they worked together as a team, made progress step by step, and need to continue with the same method this season. He acknowledged that it`s not perfect and he would prefer to be winning from the start.
Vasseur also mentioned that Ferrari was not performing well at the same time last year, but they managed to bounce back, win five races, and almost win the constructors` title, missing it by only 14 points.
He believes there`s no quick fix and Ferrari needs to improve in many small ways to gain time.
Vasseur stated that last year they were about six tenths of a second slower on average, but they managed to close the gap during the season.
He emphasized that regardless of the current gap or results, they must focus on doing better each week to enhance the car`s potential and utilize it fully. He concluded that improvements are needed across the board.
Hamilton: Closing the Gap Will Take Significant Effort
Lewis Hamilton, in his first season with Ferrari, has only scored 15 points. His hopes for a record-breaking eighth world title are fading fast.
After the race in Japan, Hamilton mentioned that a part of his car isn`t performing as expected, unlike Leclerc`s car.
Hamilton believes Ferrari needs to improve in all areas but is hopeful for better performance in Bahrain. He thinks the track`s characteristics, with slower corners and long straights, should be more suitable for their car.
He expressed his hope to be closer to the front in the next race.
He noted that Ferrari was likely the fourth fastest team in Japan and needs to improve their downforce. He recognizes the need for significant work to catch up.
Hamilton added that they will gradually improve the car and it will be interesting to see when other teams introduce upgrades. He reiterated that Ferrari has a lot of work to do to close the gap to the leading teams, who are currently about three to four tenths ahead, requiring substantial upgrades.
Marcus Prine