Team principal Frederic Vassuer says Ferrari can’t draw conclusions for the rest of their season from the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc started 10th after being knocked out in Q2 and Carlos Sainz received a three-place grid place penalty for blocking Pierre Gasly.
In the race, the Ferrari pair were initially caught in a DRS train but elected not to pit under the safety car when most of the field did.
Leclerc and Sainz managed to jump the drivers they were originally stuck behind with their one-stop strategy, when the other midfield runners went for a two-stop, as they finished fourth and fifth.
“It’s a positive Sunday,” Vasseur said to the media. “I think we had a good Friday, the Saturday was a bit more difficult but at the end it was a good Sunday.
“Now we can’t draw a conclusion about the situation or the season after one race, but from Miami it’s a bit different.
“It’s true that we are going in the right direction, and I hope it will be true in two weeks from now in Austria.”
Ferrari get the strategy right
In qualifying, Leclerc was visibly frustrated when the pit wall ignored his request for soft tyres, when the track was drying out in Q2.
But, the Monegasque driver finished less than five seconds behind Hamilton at the chequered flag after Ferrari‘s strategy call, which Vasseur admits was a brave decision.
“It was of use to us because both of them [Leclerc and Sainz] told us that their pace was probably much better for them without being stuck in traffic,” Vasseur added.
“That the potential was there and to just give them some free air. The best way to do it was to not pit under the safety car, and it’s kind of a gamble because if you have another safety car 15 laps later then it’s a bit more difficult. But it was the best way to recover the cars.”
