On the eve of the Japanese Grand Prix, the Scuderia Ferrari is already at a decisive point in its season. The Suzuka circuit, renowned for its technical complexity and twists and turns, represents a new challenge for the Scuderia. Team principal Fred Vasseur shared his expectations and concerns ahead of the Grand Prix weekend.
The Suzuka circuit is particularly demanding for cars and drivers. Its technical turns and figure-8 configuration make it one of the most popular circuits, but also the toughest on the calendar. As Fred Vasseur points out, although the drivers love this circuit, Ferrari must ensure that the SF-25 can perform at the highest level.
For the team, the Japanese Grand Prix represents an important test for the SF-25. According to Vasseur, so far the Scuderia has only been able to exploit the car's full potential in the Friday sessions and during the Sprint in China. The performance in China showed that, on certain types of circuit, the Ferrari can compete with the best, but it's still not good enough, especially in the race.
"Now more than ever, we need to focus on ourselves to enable Charles and Lewis to exploit the SF-25's full potential at all times," explained Vasseur. "The Formula 1 is a matter of details, and it's crucial to adapt our preparation from Friday onwards to maximize weekend performance."
Ferrari engineers are convinced that the SF-25 has great potential. However, the car still suffers from some sub-optimal settings, particularly in the suspension and aerodynamics, especially at the rear. These weaknesses have led to the inconsistent performances seen in previous races.
To solve these problems, Ferrari tested several configurations at the factory, in particular the front and rear suspensions, and aerodynamic management. The adjustments made to the SF-25 for Suzuka will not be revolutionary, but will be aimed at releasing maximum performance. Maranello's technicians are also planning to revise the car's bottom end at future races, but for Suzuka it will be mainly a question of fine-tuning.
The key for Ferrari lies in attention to detail, as Fred Vasseur points out. From preparation in the factory to execution on the track, every aspect of car preparation and race weekend management must be perfectly orchestrated. "Once we've got everything in place, we'll have a clearer idea of where we stand," asserted Vasseur. That means Ferrari must be ready to adapt quickly to changing race conditions, while optimizing the car to make the most of its strengths.
For Ferrari, this weekend in Suzuka represents a golden opportunity to put things right after a difficult start to the season. The pressure is on, especially after the disappointment of Shanghai, but the team is determined to turn things around.
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