Ferrari Team Principal Describes 'Strange Feeling' After Las Vegas Grand Prix
F1Monday, 20 November 2023 at 12:00
Scuderia Ferrari team prinicpal Frederic Vasseur eveluated the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Strip Circuit.
Scuderia Ferrari F1 drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were the two fastest drivers on the track on Saturday qualifying, so it was expected the two might have a decent chance to score a podium in the race.
However, because of his unlucky circumstances, Sainz had to move ten positions back for the start of the race, so Leclerc was pretty much the only Ferrari driver competing for the win.
The Monegasque driver seemed to have a similar, if not better pace than Red Bull drivers for the major part of the race, but it was only good enough for P2 in the end.
The 26-year-old overtook Red Bull drivers three times during the race - Max Verstappen once and Sergio Perez twice, yet it was not enough for P1. Frederic Vasseur explained to the media after the race:
"On our side, it's a strange feeling when you do the pole position, you overtake three times the Red Bull, and you finish P2. It's not usual."
Leclerc was a bit unlucky with a safety car timing, which was triggered after a collision between Verstappen and George Russel in turn 14 of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit.
"Also the timing of the Safety Car was the worst-case scenario for us, four laps after our pit-stop but it is what it is."
On the other hand, Leclerc was not in the second position as he began the final lap, but made an astonishing overtake, which Perez himself did not expect to take the P2, so the race ended on a high note.
The team principal also praised Sainz, who had a collision on lap one that set him back even further than he started, but he came back to take the final P6. Vasseur concluded:
"Charles did a good job, but I think even Carlos, if you consider the FP1 story plus the incident in Turn 1, he's P20 and he's coming back to P6."
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