Ferrari reveal aggressive plan to eliminate Red Bull gap

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has detailed his plan to banish the gap to Red Bull.

Red Bull has won five out of the opening seven races this year but has faced a challenge from McLaren at the previous two rounds, with the Woking-based squad taking a race victory in Miami.

Ferrari currently appears to be the third-fastest team, however it showed encouraging pace at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix last time out.

Charles Leclerc, who crossed the line in third place, was only seven seconds down on race-winner Max Verstappen.

As Ferrari looks to take its first victory at Monaco since 2017 this weekend, Vasseur pinpointed that car set-up will be a crucial factor around the difficult-to-overtake track.

“I think that the competition will be everywhere [during the season],” Vasseur told media including RacingNews365.

“The set-up of the car will be crucial next week in Monaco. The performance of the driver will be crucial.”

Increased upgrade pace

Ferrari also brought a significant upgrade package to Imola as it bids to continue its upward trajectory.

But with the pecking order at the front of the field being so close, Vasseur has insisted his squad must increase its upgrade pace to not lose touch with the frontrunners.

“What is true is that we are at the point now where we will have to speed up the development, because imagine that someone could bring an upgrade one race before when you have three teams in one-tenth you can jump from P5 to P1,” he said.

“It means that we will have to speed up the time.

“We already had a discussion after the race for this, and it will be crucial.

“But we also have to pay attention that we are now chasing the last hundreds. It’s not anymore, an upgrade at five-tenths.

“It means that you also have to be sure that what you are bringing is working. It will be the key factor for the next couple of events."