Fred Vasseur concedes Ferrari did not have the race pace to compete at 2023 F1 Saudi Arabian GP

Fred Vasseur, Team Principal of Ferrari, has conceded that his squad did not possess the necessary race pace to compete in the Formula One 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

“It’s an area where we have been lacking for quite some time,” Vasseur said. “The reality is that we did not have the velocity to compete at this level.”

The Italian outfit has long been considered one of the most successful teams in the sport, but they have failed to keep up with their rivals in recent years. This was particularly evident during the most recent race in Saudi Arabia, where the Ferrari cars were well off the pace of the leading teams.

Vasseur acknowledged that the team has been struggling to find the right balance between speed and reliability.

“It’s been difficult to find the optimum combination of power and reliability,” he said. “We have been making strides towards that goal, but it’s clear that we still have a long way to go.”

The Ferrari squad is now focusing its efforts on improving its race pace, with Vasseur hoping that this will be enough to put them back on par with the front-running teams.

“We know that we need to make more progress if we are to be a genuine contender for the championship,” he said. “It’s a challenging task, but one that we are committed to achieving.”

It remains to be seen if Ferrari can return to the top of the standings, but Vasseur is confident that the team can continue to improve and become a serious contender in the future.