Following a Monaco Grand Prix weekend of mixed emotions in the Ferrari garage, team principal Fred Vasseur was determined to focus on what he believes is the bigger picture.
At the outset, the Scuderia carried the weight of high expectations in Monte Carlo, with many tipping their nimble chassis to dominate the venue’s low-speed layout.
While Friday practice seemed to validate that favoritism as the Italian team topped both sessions, Saturday saw them slip marginally behind Mercedes’ phenom Kimi Antonelli. Ferrari ultimately settled for a second-row lockout in qualifying.
The race, however, threw an immediate positive curveball when Max Verstappen’s Red Bull suffered a terminal issue at lights out, instantly elevating Ferrari into prime podium positions. From there, the narrative split down the middle of the Italian outfit’s garage.
Hamilton's maximum return
For Lewis Hamilton, the weekend was a testament to his burgeoning synergy with the Maranello squad. The British veteran drove a calculated, composed race to maintain second place.
Even a five-second time penalty for speeding in the pit lane – served during a tense Safety Car period where Ferrari successfully executed a high-pressure double-stack pit stop – could not derail his charge. Hamilton crossed the line securely in P2, trailing only race-winner Antonelli.
Vasseur, who made a welcome return to the pit wall for Sunday’s Grand Prix after missing Saturday’s qualifying sessions due to medical reasons, was full of praise for his veteran driver's performance.
“We have to stay positive because, overall, this has been another strong weekend for us. Lewis secured his second consecutive podium and I think he achieved the maximum that was available with our package today,” Vasseur reflected.
The team boss noted that Hamilton's adaptation to the car is hitting an ideal trajectory at a crucial juncture in the championship.
“Over the last few races we have seen him growing in confidence and feeling more comfortable in the car, which is encouraging and reflects the progress we are making as a team,” he said.
Heartbreak and brake woes for Leclerc
While one side of the garage celebrated, the other was consumed by a painfully familiar sense of deflation as Charles Leclerc’s elusive hunt for a smooth Monaco Grand Prix weekend met a brutal end.
The Monegasque driver struggled with persistent braking gremlins that plagued his car from the outset, culminating in a Q3 mishap and a devastating race-ending accident.
Following a late-race Safety Car period to clear Lance Stroll's stranded Aston Martin, the pack was unleashed. Just as Leclerc was building momentum to mount a late charge, his brakes failed him.
In a cruel mirror image of Stroll's earlier crash, Leclerc slid helplessly nose-first into the barriers at the final corner.
A furious Leclerc immediately vented over the team radio, stating he wouldn't "take the blame" for a crash made inevitable by an "impossible" braking system – a bitter pill to swallow on the very weekend Ferrari announced his multi-year contract extension.
“For Charles, it was obviously a very frustrating outcome,” Vasseur summarized, refusing to hide from the mechanical shortcomings. “We experienced brake issues throughout the weekend and something was clearly not working as it should.”
Read also: Brembo 'astonished’ by Leclerc’s Monaco brake failure claims
With the European season in full swing, Vasseur emphasized that understanding the failure is the factory’s top priority before turning a wheel in Spain.
“We will analyse the situation carefully, understand exactly what happened and make sure we address it before Barcelona. Charles was in a strong position and it's disappointing to lose those points, especially in his home race,” he added.
Despite the mixed emotions, Leclerc hinted that the team already has a technical fix in the pipeline. With the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix just days away, Vasseur is adamant that Ferrari’s upward trajectory remains intact.
“We need to keep our focus on ourselves, continue working hard and maximise every opportunity,” the Frenchman concluded.
“The mood within the team is positive, the direction is the right one and we have another opportunity in just a few days' time to keep moving forward.”
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