24.12.2024 Frederic Vasser: Ferrari should not overdo it with risks, the main thing is to score points to get a chance for the title

Ferrari told how to take risks in the fight with McLaren for the title. Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur summed up the Italian team`s disappointing qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Season leaders McLaren will start the race from the front row, while Carlos Sainz will start third and Charles Leclerc will start 19th after qualifying 14th and having an engine penalty.
Carlos had a very good qualifying, fought for first place and ended up missing the front row due to a small mistake in the last corner, missing quite a bit. But it doesn’t matter, we will still fight, whether we start second or third – the difference is small.
However, the situation with Charles is different, it`s true. Initially, it was known that in the best scenario he would start 11th, and we saw what happened - he drove literally centimeters over the line, ” Vasser said on Italian Sky Sport.
The manager allowed the replacement of the entire power plant on Leclerc`s car, although he warned that this would not have a strong impact:
We`ll see, there is such a possibility, we`ll decide tomorrow. Although there is no significant wear on the engine, I don’t think this will give a big advantage.
Frederic also discussed the strategy for the Monegasque and the risk of the Scuderia, which needs to earn at least 21 points:
It`s not that the race is the last and we need to go a different way or do something strange. But maybe we`ll choose a slightly different tactic with Charles to avoid getting caught in traffic and get more chances.
On paper the situation was very difficult even before we arrived in Abu Dhabi. Now we cannot call the task impossible, because we do not know what will happen. Believe me, we will fight until the last turn of the last lap.
Is it necessary to risk everything? Yes and no, because the main thing is to score enough points for the championship [in case of McLaren`s problems]. So we can`t overdo it with risk - we can`t predict in advance what will happen.
So far McLaren has not had any breakdowns or accidents - who knows. That means we need to at least get enough points [to have a chance at the title].
Conditions for McLaren and Ferrari in the Constructors` Championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
McLaren will start from the front row, Ferrari from 3rd and 19th positions in the race that will decide the fate of the Constructors` Championship