Ferrari had a frustrating end to Sunday’s Mexican Grand Prix after failing to convert its first pole position of the season into a race victory. Team principal Fred Vasseur has voiced his disappointment following a fiery opening-lap battle for the lead between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc that ultimately cost them a much-needed win.
Speaking to the media after the race, Vasseur admitted that the result was difficult to accept, considering the position the team was in at the start of the race.
“We were 1-2 at Turn 4,” the Frenchman said. “When you are 1-2 at Turn 4, you don’t imagine that you won’t win the race.
“It’s a lot of frustration for me, but I’m not the most important – it’s a lot of frustration for the 2,000 people working for the project. And this I will need time to digest.”
Hamilton secured a second-place finish behind race winner Max Verstappen, while Leclerc had to settle for a P4 after the subsequent penalty.
How Ferrari Ended Up Losing From a 1–2 on First Lap
Hamilton started from pole after delivering an impressive qualifying lap, securing his first pole position for Ferrari and the 105th of his Formula 1 career.
The Italian outfit was in an ideal position to control the race, with its two drivers arriving first and second at Turn 4 on the opening lap at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
However, the situation got out of hand as Leclerc and Hamilton became involved in a wheel-to-wheel battle for the lead. Leclerc emerged ahead after cutting across the grass, while Hamilton ran wide on the exit and lost momentum, allowing Verstappen to take second place. Leclerc eventually received a 5-second penalty for gaining an advantage off-track.
The incident proved costly for Fred Vasseur’s team, particularly as Ferrari had shown encouraging improvements in performance over the past couple of race weekends.
However, this isn’t the first rodeo for the Ferrari duo. They had a long and exciting wheel-to-wheel battle in China that left the fans wanting for more. The pair again came close to a race-ending crash on the opening lap of the Italian Grand Prix that cost Hamilton multiple positions.
Fred Vasseur Reminds Ferrari Drivers of Their Responsibility to the Team
The Frenchman was also questioned about whether he could ask Hamilton and Leclerc to put their individual objectives aside and prioritize the team’s results when racing each other.
Vasseur responded by emphasizing that driving for Scuderia comes with a responsibility towards the entire organization. According to the Frenchman, it’s a matter of respect.
“This is typically what means respect – that they are not working for themselves, they are working for a group, they are working for a lot of sponsors, they are working for the 2,000 people of the company; the guys, when we had to push for the upgrades, they were working night and day, and we have to keep this in mind,” Vasseur said.
Ferrari currently sits second in the F1 constructor championship with two wins and 13 podiums. It will be interesting to watch how the Ferrari pair will race each other for the remainder of the season.
More F1 Reading
- Mercedes Fined $5,589 After George Russell Leaves Mexican GP Without Speaking to Press
- Max Verstappen Takes Dig at Ferrari’s Infighting After Winning From Fifth in Mexico
- Sebastian Vettel Delivers Heartfelt Message as Kimi Antonelli Breaks His Record To Win F1 Title
- Lewis Hamilton Blames Charles Leclerc’s ‘Do or Die’ Mentality for Costing Ferrari Mexican GP Win
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Mercedes Fined $5,589 After George Russell Leaves Mexican GP Without Speaking to Press
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