Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur has denied that the 2024 Formula 1 season will represent a “transition year” for the team as it awaits reinforcements from rival outfits.
The Italian marque is bidding to rebound from a tough campaign last term that saw it drop to third in the Constructors’ Championship, 454 points behind Red Bull.
Since arriving at the helm ahead of last season, Vasseur has attempted to bolster Ferrari’s technical ranks with a multitude of acquisitions from its main competitors.
That has included poaching Mercedes’ Head of Trackside Engineering Loic Serra, but gardening leave has prevented him and others from starting at Maranello instantly.
Along with Lewis Hamilton’s switch from Mercedes next year, that has prompted suggestions Ferrari won’t be in contention to challenge for the ultimate prize this season.
However, Vasseur has declared that awaiting such big-name arrivals hasn’t led to Ferrari dampening internal expectations in the slightest for the upcoming campaign.
“2024 won’t be a transition year, it’s quite important season for us, and I’m fully focused on this,” he told media including Motorsport Week at the launch of the SF-24.
“The best way to prepare something is to do a good job, we are focused on 2024, we want to get the best, we want to win races, we want to continue on the path of 2023 and we won’t be at all thinking about 2025.”
Ferrari has now committed to a “complete revamp” with its 2024 challenger that aims to provide a more stable platform for both drivers compared to its troubled predecessor.
But Vasseur asserts that Ferrari will not be able to be satisfied with its winter progress until the car is stacked up against the competition once testing commences.
“Only Bahrain will let us know because it’s not a matter to be happy with the development you made, at the end of the day it’s a comparison if you gain two seconds if the others are doing three you look stupid and if you are doing one you are the best of the world,” the Frenchman explained.
“At the end of the day, the judgement will be based on comparison.”
Ferrari ended the last campaign with the sole non-Red Bull win and became a consistent competitor in qualifying trim with three pole positions across the closing five rounds.
When asked about the prospect of the team winning multiple races or challenging Red Bull for the title, Vasseur pointed out that achieving the former would help the latter.
“I think if we are able to win some races, we will be in much better shape into the championship, and for me the two are linked,” Vasseur commented.
“In terms of organization on-track, we won’t have a big change, small adaptations, and touch by touch, we are going in the right direction.”
Vasseur has also stressed that Ferrari can’t afford to rest on its laurels at any stage, citing how the rapid rate of evolution in F1 means that constant progress is essential.
“By DNA if you start to be happy with what you have you are dead,” Vasseur outlined.
“You need to be always in the mindset of continual improvement. Try to work on your weaknesses. Try to do some steps in some areas.
“For sure, people are starting to join the team now and this is good news. Day after day, I think we’re reinforcing, we are making steps.
“But it’s not that tomorrow morning I will say we are there and I’m happy with the situation. If you start to have this kind of approach, I think it’s the beginning of the end.”
