After the first five races of the 2023 season, Ferrari sit in a vexatious fourth with 78 points. Red Bull have consistently outperformed all opponents, winning five out of five.
Matters grow worse for Ferrari, as Aston Martin and Mercedes continue to get the edge. Whether a driver or engineer, when at Ferrari the expectation to succeed is greater than most – and team boss Frederic Vasseur is no stranger to that pressure.
The Ferrari outfit has endured a turbulent start and Miami was no exception. Carlos Sainz finished the race in P5 with Charles Leclerc trailing in P7 – only further conveying that the issues at Ferrari are deeply rooted.
Team boss Frederic Vasseur was adamant over the weekend that change will come from within. The team boss ultimately dismissed the chance of taking influence from the soaring Red Bulls.
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“I think it would be a mistake first to think that the performance is coming from a single pillar – the performance is coming from everywhere.”
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“On the top, if you have to duplicate something, it means that you are always late.
“Now with the cost cap and the fact that the car is almost frozen between two seasons, it’s quite impossible to copy someone. It means that we have to stick to our plan and try to develop our platform.”
Red Bull’s side pod design and hugely effective DRS have not gone unnoticed. Verstappen and Perez have driven confident, assured, and largely harmonious with their respective cars.
With an Italian Grand Prix around the corner, Scuderia fans can expect changes to the SF-23. The team will attempt to rectify mistakes and impress on home soil.