Ferrari struggled with overheating brakes for a lot of the Singapore Grand Prix and has misplaced floor to Mercedes within the constructors’ championship.
A yr in the past, Ferrari was crushed to the constructors’ title by McLaren on the remaining race of the season, however this yr McLaren wrapped up the championship in Singapore whereas Ferrari sits third. The hole to Mercedes grew to 25 factors after George Russell gained and Kimi Antonelli was fifth, with Lewis Hamilton limping dwelling resulting from brake issues that had additionally impacted Charles Leclerc earlier on.
“We have been over-heating, not from lap one, however from lap two or three,” Vasseur stated. “We needed to do raise and coast within the race. Even for them, on the finish, it is not simple to drive as a result of you need to adapt your braking level every lap.
“Clearly, once we pushed a few laps with Lewis, I believe the tempo was respectable. However you’ll be able to’t do 95% of the race on the again foot and doing administration.
“Everyone knows that in Singapore, if you end up in the midst of the pack, it is important for the brakes. For certain, the truth that we did not do FP2 did not assist on the finish, nevertheless it was not anticipated at this level.
“When it comes to security, sure [it was fine], as a result of we tailored the tempo. It isn’t like Lewis was pushing like hell within the final lap – he was 30 seconds slower. When it comes to security, it was on the secure aspect for the goal. The goal is to be secure, however the goal is to not be 30 seconds slower.”
Vasseur says there was a quick window the place the Ferrari tempo appeared akin to the front-running vehicles, however that there was little alternative to evaluate the automotive’s potential with out encountering the braking points.
“I believe we did a few laps with them, however then you do not know,” he stated. “Very early within the race we requested Charles to do raise and coast. It isn’t only a matter of doing a raise and coast if you’re shedding a bit of bit on the finish of the straight. It is also to seek out the suitable braking level.
“All of the race we have been ‘a bit extra’, ‘a bit much less’, ‘a bit extra’, ‘a bit much less’, ‘a bit extra on the rear’, ‘a bit extra on the entrance’, ‘you need to change the brake steadiness’… Ultimately, you lose most likely extra on the reference for you if you end up driving the automotive than on the pure potential.”
