After Fred Vasseur has experienced his first weeks as Ferrari team boss, the Frenchman talks about the pre-season, the two drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz and the pre-season.
Ferrari has a new team boss this year in Fred Vasseur and the Frenchman, who gained a lot of experience as CEO of Sauber Motorsport and Alfa Romeo team principal from 2017 until the end of last season, doing everything possible to promote his new team get to know each other better.
“So far it’s been going pretty well,” says the 54-year-old, but also admits in the same breath: “It’s quite intense, as you can imagine. Because there is little time left between January and the first tests with the car, which will take place in Bahrain in February. So I have to hold on, but it can be done.”
He already knows two members of the Ferrari team well: the driver duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. The new boss of the Scuderia team says about the duo: “After the confirmation of my engagement, we had a long conversation. It was important for me to find out their mood and what they think of the past few years. It’s an advantage for me that the same pilots are on board as before, it allows me to better understand the situation. And since I know them both quite well, everything went much faster than usual.
Vasseur always tries to get to know his new employees better. “The most important thing for me during these first weeks is to meet as many people as possible and talk to them – about themselves, about me and about the organization. Above all, I want to know the individuals. I’ve already met a few people, but there are still a few meetings to come.”
The atmosphere in Maranello is good. “Everyone is very focused and engaged. And it’s still the same story a season ago. We can’t wait to present the car and the first test is scheduled. Because we know that this season there is little time between the presentation, the tests and the first race. So we have to be ready from day one. But the atmosphere is good and we are very focused”, explains the engineer.
And what does Vasseur say about the new car? “I’m not here to share secrets, but the car will be red,” he said with a smile.
Formula 1 2023
presentations
February 3: Red Bull Racing in New York
February 06: Williams on the Web (live only)
February 7: Alfa Romeo Racing in Zurich
February 11: AlphaTauri in New York (deliveries only)
February 13: McLaren at Woking
February 13: Aston Martin at Silverstone
February 14: Ferrari at Maranello
February 15: Mercedes at Silverstone
February 16: Alpine in London
winter trials
February 23-25: Bahrain International Circuit
Formula 1 World Championship Calendar
05.03. Bahrain GP, Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir
03/19 Saudi Arabia GP, Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah
02.04. Australian GP, Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne
30/04 Azerbaijan GP, Baku City Circuit, Baku*
07.05. Miami GP, Miami International Autodrome, Miami
21/05 Emilia-Romagna GP, Autodrome Enzo and Dino Ferrari, Imola
05/28 Monaco GP, Circuit de Monaco, Monte-Carlo
04.06. Spanish GP, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmeló
06/18 Canadian GP, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal
02.07. Austrian GP, Red Bull Ring, Spielberg*
09.07. British GP, Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone
23.07. Hungarian GP, Hungaroring, Budapest
30/07 Belgian GP, Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps, Spa*
27/08 Dutch GP, Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort
03.09. Italian GP, Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza
09/17 Singapore GP, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore
24/09 Japanese GP, Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka
08.10. Qatar GP, Losail International Circuit, Doha*
22.10. Austin GP, Circuit of the Americas, Austin*
29.10. Mexican GP, Autodromo Hermann Rodríguez, Mexico City
05.11. Brazilian GP, Autodromo José Carlos Pace, Interlagos*
18.11. Las Vegas GP, Las Vegas Street Circuit, Las Vegas
26/11 Abu Dhabi GP, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island
*Sprint format
Devoted beer advocate. Alcohol specialist. General tv evangelist. Zombie practitioner. Travel enthusiast. Avid gamer. Bacon expert. Pop culture fan.
