Vasseur Rejects Wolff's 'Humiliation' Claim on McLaren's Dominance

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has disagreed with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff following Wolff's strong comments about McLaren's superior pace after the Dutch Grand Prix.

Why it matters

Wolff had controversially stated that McLaren's performance was a "humiliation for everyone" else on the grid, highlighting the significant gap in pace. This sparked a direct response from Vasseur, reflecting the competitive tension among top F1 teams.

The big picture

The Dutch Grand Prix was a challenging weekend for Ferrari, resulting in a double DNF and no points, with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton involved in incidents. McLaren, however, showcased dominant speed, with Oscar Piastri extending his lead in the drivers' championship, only missing a one-two finish due to Lando Norris' DNF. McLaren now holds a commanding 224-point lead over Ferrari in the constructors' standings.

Vasseur's Counterpoint

In response to Wolff's harsh assessment, Vasseur, speaking to GPBlog, refuted the notion of "humiliation." While acknowledging McLaren's formidable speed, he stopped short of using such a strong term.

• "Not completely, because it's not only the last stint. I think if you have a look at the race, in the middle of the second stint, I don't know if [McLaren decided to push or not, but they were also much faster than everybody," Vasseur explained.
• He added, "I think they managed the first 10 laps of the second stint before the VSC, and when they decided to push, they were miles away."

What's next

Vasseur admitted that McLaren's pace is currently unmatched on the grid, especially in race conditions. While Ferrari remains second in the constructors' standings, the gap is expected to widen if McLaren continues this trajectory. The comments underscore the growing challenge McLaren poses to established top teams.

• "Clearly, they are a step ahead in quali, but much more than this in the race. But humiliation. I won't go so far," Vasseur concluded, indicating a cautious respect rather than outright despair.