Fred Vasseur issues Ferrari demand over critical F1 concern

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has highlighted the urgent need for his squad to rectify the lift and coast issues that plagued it at the Singapore Grand Prix.

Charles Leclerc was informed by the team at the Marina Bay Circuit to lift and coast in order to preserve his brakes.

This practice involves lifting off the throttle on the approach to a corner before the brakes are applied following a period of zero pedal activity.

Leclerc has faced similar lift and coast instructions on several occasions this year, suggesting a bigger issue for the team is present.

As Ferrari seek to end the year second in the standings, Vasseur acknowledged the importance of fixing the problem immediately.

“If we are not able to fix the issue, there is no way to fight,” Vasseur told media including RacingNews365. 

“It means that we have to fix the issue for sure, for the race. The next race would be a different story.”

Leclerc ended the Singapore race in sixth place, while team-mate Lewis Hamilton fell to eighth place in the final classification after losing his brakes in the final stages.

It marked a disappointing result for Ferrari, who won the race around the Marina Bay Circuit two years ago.

When asked if Ferrari's pace was comparable with the front-runners before it was hit with issues, Vasseur replied: “Honestly, I don’t know. 

“I think we did a couple of laps with them, but then you don’t know. Very early in the race we asked Charles to do a lift and coast.

“It’s not just a matter of doing lift and cost where you are losing a little bit on the end of the straight.

“It is also finding the right braking point and all the race we are a bit more, a bit less, a bit more, a bit less, a bit more on the rear, a bit more on the front, you have to change the right balance.”