Frederic Vasseur ahead of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on November 26, 2023. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur said his team cannot be “too optimistic” about their future performance in 2024.

The Italian scuderia finished the 2023 season in third place behind a dominant Red Bull Racing and an improving Mercedes team – a setback from 2022, when Ferrari had finished in second.

When asked if the performance of his squad will improve during the 2024 season, Vasseur said: “I don’t know if it will be better this year. Nobody knows.

“We are just focused on ourselves and trying to do the best,” he said.

“I don’t want to be too optimistic – I think this was one of the issues we had last season. We just have to focus on what we are doing and not think about the outcome of the championship before race one.”