Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has brought a ton of change to the Italian powerhouse, both in approach and personnel, and they seem to be paying off.
Ferrari has been known for their strategy mistakes, throwing away results and points-scoring opportunities time and time again.
For a long time, it seemed like there was a curse over the team, but since the introduction of team principal Fred Vassuer and a veteran in Hamilton joining the fold.
After coming up short in Belgium, finishing only fourth, Hamilton thought it was a disappointing result given the amount of pace that he showed, along with how the team was firing.
// Michael Jurtin / Red Bull Ring // SI202606250978 // Usage for editorial use only //
While the result was not ideal, he took away a lot of positives from the race and the procedures in place.
“Yeah, definitely really encouraging,” Hamilton said.
“I think the team has been making great decisions with strategy.
I think we’ve really elevated a lot across the board in how we operate on the weekend, and then on Sunday, I think we had the pace to win.
“Given everything, to come away with the points we did, I’m really grateful.”
Ferrari has long been the butt of the joke on the grid for their operational management, making the wrong pit-stop decisions, failing to follow some FIA regulations, and even having multiple reliability issues with their cars.
Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Ferrari expectations for Hungary
For the upcoming race before the summer break, Vassuer is tamping down expectations.
“Now each weekend we start from scratch.
It’s a lot about setup, tyre management.
On this one Budapest will be probably much better than Spa, it will be a different game … but it’s not a given,” Vassuer said.
“I don’t want to go to Budapest considering that it will be easy, because it won’t be easy.
On paper for sure the engine deficit will be less of an issue, but then we have to do the same thing.”
Considering how well the race team has been performing, it seems like only a matter of time before Ferrari really start pushing Mercedes, but it will come down to their ability to upgrade and develop the power unit and close the current gap.
