Fred Vasseur: Ferrari 'Closed Gap' to McLaren After Italian GP

Fred Vasseur: Ferrari Closing Gap to McLaren After Monza

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur asserts the Scuderia significantly "closed the gap" to McLaren following the Italian Grand Prix, despite not securing a win. Vasseur believes Ferrari was in "better shape" at Monza, showcasing improved performance compared to previous rounds.

Why it matters: Ferrari currently holds second place in the Constructors' Championship but remains the only one of F1's top four teams without a Grand Prix victory this season. Narrowing the performance gap to key rivals like McLaren is crucial for solidifying their position and mounting a stronger challenge in the remaining races.

The details:

• At Monza, Charles Leclerc finished fourth and Lewis Hamilton (after a grid penalty) placed sixth. They had qualified fourth and fifth, respectively.
• Vasseur highlighted the reduced performance difference, stating Ferrari was "one tenth off the first row in qualifying."
• He emphasized that the gap to McLaren was the "smallest" across all sessions, including FP1, FP3, qualifying, and the race itself.
• Despite this progress, Ferrari still needs to convert improved pace into race wins.
• The Constructors' Championship remains tightly contested:
  • Ferrari is 20 points ahead of Mercedes.
  • Ferrari leads Red Bull (in fourth) by 41 points.
• With eight rounds remaining, Red Bull, particularly given Max Verstappen's dominant form, could emerge as a late threat for the runner-up spot in the standings.

What's next: While Vasseur sees reason for optimism, he acknowledges that "more work must be done" to consistently outperform rivals. The battle for second in the Constructors' Championship is expected to intensify, with Ferrari aiming to build on its Monza performance.