Frédéric Vasseur comments on the 2024 Scuderia Ferrari Miami Grand Prix, which ended with third place for Leclerc and fourth for Carlos Sainz
May 6, 2024
Dvery shortly concluded Miami Grand Prix 2024the sixth round of the Formula 1 season. After the race in China and a week’s break, the Circus returned to the track in Florida for the second weekend with Sprint format. The frenetic pace put the riders to the test, above all Charles Leclerc who had to completely miss the first and only free practice session. During his first attempt, the Monegasque lost control of his SF-24, extraordinarily painted blue to celebrate seventy years of Ferrari on the American market. After the spin he then tried to get back on track correctly but the overheating of the clutch forced number #16 to get out of the car and observe the continuation of FP1 from his garage.
NoDespite the missed session, Charles Leclerc was back on track for the Shootout qualifications, took second place alongside the pole man of the 100km race, Max Verstappen. At the checkered flag of Sprintthe Monegasque always finished second behind the three-time world champion from Red Bull. Carlos Sainz, however, started and finished fifth after trying numerous times to overtake Daniel Ricciardo’s Visa Cash App. Thanks to some changes to his car in terms of set-up, the Madrid native managed to gain third position in the traditional qualifying sessions in Miami. In front of him, however, in the long race Charles Leclerc and pole man Max Verstappen started on the front row.
Carlos Sainz initially took second place when Charles Leclerc skidded at the startbut above all the Red Bull of Sergio Perez who passed in front of him almost hitting him after the Mexican had missed the braking point in turn 1. The Monegasque then managed to recover his position, but the Madrid native asked via a team radio to be able to move forward to reach Oscar Piastri, who in the meantime had risen to second position behind leader Max Verstappen. After the waltz of pit stops, minimally staggered after the Safety Car and the Virutal, Charles Leclerc followed the Red Bull of Max Verstappen who was in turn chasing the McLaren of Lando Norriswinner of the 2024 Miami Grand Prix.
TOthe end of the 57 scheduled laps, Charles Leclerc took third positionpreceding his teammate. Carlos Sainz had to fight tooth and nail with Oscar Piastri to finish fourth. The final overtaking was not easy but above all painless. In fact, between the two there was a contact but the Australian from McLaren came out the worst, while the Madrid-born’s SF-24 essentially came out unannounced. Definitely a positive weekend for Scuderia Ferrari even if it was only third force, being overtaken, only on the track and not in the standings, by the Woking team. At the next round, scheduled for two weeks, in Imola the situation could change further as the Maranello team will bring the first substantial package of updates.
“We have been fighting with McLaren since the beginning of the season” he has declared Frédéric Vasseur at the end of the race on Sky’s microphones. “In Melbourne they were close to us and every weekend it was like that. I want to congratulate Lando and McLaren, it’s an important step for him because it’s his first victory. NoWe had a good race, the pace was there Why we were with Max the whole time. We were a bit unlucky with the Safety Car, but that’s how it went. Let’s start from scratch for next weekend. I believe there is a gap that varies from track to track. We have to think about our work and make the best of what we have. We must not focus on updates but continue to work hard” concluded the Ferrari team principal.
