While Charles Leclerc saw his hopes of a podium last weekend in Bahrain disappear due to an engine problem, Scuderia boss Frédéric Vasseur ordered a full investigation into the causes of this retirement.
It will no doubt be a trial by fire for Frédéric Vasseur. Arriving at the head of Scuderia Ferrari last January, the French engineer experienced a complicated Bahrain Grand Prix. If the red single-seater had the weapons to compete with Red Bull Racing during qualifying, the race pace was never there. While Charles Leclerc couldn’t resist Sergio Pérez for second place, Carlos Sainz Jr lost to Fernando Alonso and his Aston Martin. But the worst took place on the 39th of the 57 laps on the program on the Sakhir circuit with the engine of the Monegasque single-seater which suddenly stoppedforcing the 2022 vice-world champion to park on the edge of the track.
An incident which occurred when Ferrari replaced the battery and the electronic unit of the single-seater entrusted to Charles Leclerc between qualifying and the race. ” We did not expect to have a problem like this because it is new and we were not confronted with that during the 6000 to 7000 kilometers carried out in tests last week with the three teams but also on the test bench, ”said Frédéric Vasseur in remarks collected by the official F1 website. .
Leclerc was powerless to prevent Perez from snatching P2 #BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/ahhtoN4w34
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 7, 2023
Vasseur demands a “full investigation”
In order to determine the very nature of the problem and what the possible solutions are, the boss of the Maranello team has ordered a “full investigation”. ” We had a problem with the engine and we need to investigate to find out exactly what happened. “, he added. However, one element that could relieve Charles Leclerc when the quota of engine elements remains so small despite the presence of 23 Grands Prix on the calendar this season, is that the engine itself would not be the cause of the problem. met in Bahrain.
« It does not directly concern the engine but an accessory, assured Frédéric Vasseur. I would like to be able to say that it is a pity but it is the reality of the situation… It is like that. One of the lessons that Ferrari wants to draw from this first stage of the year is that the work on engine reliability is not yet finished. ” We need to make significant progress on reliability, added the boss of the Scuderia. We must consider that the race is the reality, go from there in order to improve the situation. Added to this is also better management of tire degradation, which weighed down the race for Carlos Sainz Jr. In short, Ferrari will have to react to not let the competition fly away.
