All eyes are on Ferrari and their team principal, Frederic Vasseur, as the Formula 1 circus prepares for the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend.
Vasseur provided a preview of Ferrari’s worries and preparations for the next race weekend.
“I think it will be a difficult one, but if you have a difficult one for everybody then we will all be in the same situation,” Vasseur commented acknowledging the demanding nature of the upcoming race.
As he considered the unique properties of the Shanghai International Circuit, the team principal emphasized the unpredictability of the track conditions, especially the tarmac’s.
“The biggest question mark for me will be the tarmac, because the layout of the track we know,” he mentioned. “We don’t know the roughness of the tarmac, this will be key for the weekend.”
Vasseur also highlighted how the temperature was lower than in previous events, suggesting that this element might make things more difficult for the teams.
“Most people know that the biggest question mark for me will be the tarmac and probably compared to the last event we have colder conditions,” he explained.
The limited practice time resulting from the tight schedule is one of the logistical issues that teams in China face. The Ferrari boss emphasized this problem, pointing out, “what is a bit difficult with the format of China is that with the tyre allocation and one [practice] session, we have to choose [a set-up] which we are bonded to in the car.”
It is crucial to base decisions on Friday’s performance because there is only one practice session left to adjust setups before qualifying and the race.
“Based on Friday, the anticipation on the weekend is crucial,” Vasseur concluded by spotlighting the first practice session’s strategic significance.