Focus on Verstappen/Norris controversies “perfect situation” for Ferrari

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has insisted focus on the rivalry between three-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen and title rival Lando Norris is “perfect” for the Scuderia’s own championship hopes.

The Italian marque has slashed the gap at the top of the standings after two brilliant weekends to begin the penultimate triple-header of the season, with Charles Leclerc heading a dominant 1-2 at the United States Grand Prix before Carlos Sainz took the win in Mexico last weekend – his team-mate taking third with the fastest lap.

But Ferrari’s successes have been overshadowed by on-track controversy between drivers’ title protagonists Verstappen and Norris, whose Red Bull and McLaren teams have lost ground in the constructors’ race whilst they have squabbled behind – as well as being supported by poor results from their team-mates.

Vasseur’s squad now sits 29 points adrift of McLaren in second having leapfrogged the reigning championship-winning outfit Red Bull and he said the focus on rival skirmishes was an advantage for Ferrari.

“As long as you are all focused on Max and Norris, this is perfect for us,” he said after Sainz’s triumph at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal and General Manager, Scuderia Ferrari, Christian Horner, Team Principal, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

“You can be focused on the fight between Toto [Wolff, Mercedes team principal] and Christian [Horner, Red Bull boss] between Zak [Brown, McLaren CEO] and Christian, between Lando and Max, between whatever – as long as we are under the radar, it allows us to be fully focused on what we are doing, on the team, on the drivers.

“This is a perfect situation for us. I think you [the media] will have tons to say about Max and Lando, it will be the headlines and it’s good for us.”

Pressed on why the current fight between McLaren and Red Bull was beneficial for Ferrari, Vasseur replied: “I think it’s important for us to have no distraction.

“We are clear, we are focused on what we are doing, on the car, on the management of the team. [We can] take race after race and not to think about the global future – I think it’s paying off.”