Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur called on his team to channel the “frustration” resulting from the setback into a “push to return to the top of Formula 1”.
The Italian brand started the season in good shape, with its revised SF-24 proving consistent in racing and the biggest challenger to Red Bull’s RB20.
Since then, however, Ferrari has suffered a slump, with updates at the Spanish Grand Prix in June causing unintended high-speed oscillations that hampered the company’s progress.
Ferrari achieved two podium finishes in the last six races, compared to nine in the first eight rounds, and dropped to third in the Constructors’ Championship behind McLaren.
However, Vasseur is adamant that the team remains determined to return to the competitiveness it showed at the start of the season and is using this time as motivation to push forward with that goal.
“You have to feel a certain frustration when you’re not feeling well, because that’s the best incentive to come back,” Vasseur told F1.com.
“It has to stay under control. We’ve had four tough weekends (Canada, Spain, Austria and Great Britain).
“The mood in the team was not good as it was not what we wanted, but there was a positive attitude to catch up, understand why and fix it. The attitude is good.”
Since his appointment as CEO last season, Vasseur has stressed that he wants to eliminate the tense climate that prevents engineers from taking risks.
Given the small gaps between the teams at the top, the Frenchman has reiterated his desire for Ferrari to be willing to gamble in the pursuit of small gains.
“If there’s anything I have to be proud of, it’s not the result,” he added.
“The result is a consequence. It is more the fact that everyone is more willing to take risks and less afraid – the consequence is the result.”
“The fact that we are trying to change the mentality a little bit. For me it is a mindset. You can’t keep a margin. You have to take risks everywhere (if you want to win).
“That’s the racing driver mentality. That’s probably Red Bull’s DNA too. We need to take a step forward.”
Ferrari will resume the F1 season next weekend at Zandvoort in third place in the Constructors’ Championship, 21 points behind McLaren and 79 ahead of Mercedes.
