Ferrari Confident for F1 Return: Hamilton, Leclerc Primed for Success!

The summer break is finally over, and Formula 1 action returns this weekend at Zandvoort. Ferrari is feeling confident and ready to build on recent momentum, according to team principal Frederic Vasseur.

Ferrari brought new updates to the Belgian Grand Prix before the break. In Hungary, Charles Leclerc managed a solid P4 finish, while his teammate Lewis Hamilton struggled to score points. Hamilton was clearly frustrated, even calling himself “useless” after Saturday’s qualifying session.

“We’re back on track after the summer break, which gave the team and the drivers a chance to recharge, ready to face a very busy final part of the season,” Vasseur said.

The Ferrari boss is clearly optimistic about their chances.

“In the Netherlands, we want to maintain the positive momentum built up over the past few races, where we made progress in terms of competitiveness.”

Drivers Ready for Battle

Vasseur believes both his drivers are in good shape heading into the weekend.

“Charles and Lewis are ready, and the team is fully focused, determined to put them in the best possible position to get some good results.”

He emphasized the importance of Saturday’s performance at this particular circuit.

“This weekend, that means starting right from qualifying, which is particularly crucial at Zandvoort, given how difficult overtaking can be at this track.”

Can Ferrari actually challenge McLaren in the Netherlands? That’s the big question.

The Hungarian Grand Prix showed Ferrari’s potential when Leclerc grabbed pole position and led much of the race, only losing the lead in the final stint.

When asked what Ferrari needs to match McLaren’s recent dominance (the Woking-based team scored another impressive one-two finish at the Hungaroring), Vasseur was straightforward.

“They perform in every single condition,” he told GPblog and other media. “When we are a bit more inconsistent during the weekend, and if we want to win, we need to be very consistent in every single condition.”

Vasseur highlighted areas needing improvement throughout the race weekend.

“In the free practise sessions to have a good preparation for the race, in Q1, Q2, Q3, with all the sets in the race, with the different compounds and so on,” he explained.

The challenge is clear: Ferrari needs to find consistency across all sessions and tire compounds if they want to challenge at the front.