Ferrari group principal Fred Vasseur has insisted give attention to the rivalry between three-time Components 1 world champion Max Verstappen and title rival Lando Norris is “excellent” for the Scuderia’s personal championship hopes.
The Italian marque has slashed the hole on the high of the standings after two sensible weekends to start the penultimate triple-header of the season, with Charles Leclerc heading a dominant 1-2 at the US Grand Prix earlier than Carlos Sainz took the win in Mexico final weekend – his team-mate taking third with the quickest lap.
However Ferrari’s successes have been overshadowed by on-track controversy between drivers’ title protagonists Verstappen and Norris, whose Pink Bull and McLaren groups have misplaced floor within the constructors’ race while they’ve squabbled behind – in addition to being supported by poor outcomes from their team-mates.
Vasseur’s squad now sits 29 factors adrift of McLaren in second having leapfrogged the reigning championship-winning outfit Pink Bull and he stated the give attention to rival skirmishes was a bonus for Ferrari.
“So long as you might be all centered on Max and Norris, that is excellent for us,” he stated after Sainz’s triumph on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Frederic Vasseur, Group Principal and Basic Supervisor, Scuderia Ferrari, Christian Horner, Group Principal, Pink Bull Racing
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photographs
“You may be centered on the battle between Toto [Wolff, Mercedes team principal] and Christian [Horner, Red Bull boss] between Zak [Brown, McLaren CEO] and Christian, between Lando and Max, between no matter – so long as we’re below the radar, it permits us to be absolutely centered on what we’re doing, on the group, on the drivers.
“It is a excellent scenario for us. I believe you [the media] can have tons to say about Max and Lando, it is going to be the headlines and it is good for us.”
Pressed on why the present battle between McLaren and Pink Bull was useful for Ferrari, Vasseur replied: “I believe it is necessary for us to don’t have any distraction.
“We’re clear, we’re centered on what we’re doing, on the automotive, on the administration of the group. [We can] take race after race and never to consider the worldwide future – I believe it is paying off.”