Fred Vasseur makes key Ferrari demand: 'We are struggling'

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has demanded that the outfit fixes the SF-25's balance issues, with him having acknowledged that the Italians "are struggling". 

The Maranello-based outfit have endured a troublesome start to the season, which has seen both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton complain of the car's performance. 

Having a consistent balance has been the Scuderia's biggest problem, particularly in qualifying. Ferrari's race pace has been promising; however, both Leclerc and Hamilton often qualify too far back to utilise it.

With full focus soon to be switching to next year's new regulations, Ferrari is running out of time to fix the problem and save its season.

Vasseur accepts that the team has a balance issue to solve, particularly over one lap.

"It's not a secret that we are struggling a little bit with the balance of the car, we have to improve on this," Vasseur told Sky F1. 

"But as long as we are able to correct it and have a good race then I'm fine, but it was the case the last couple of weekends. 

"We have to improve on one lap, clearly, but I think it's more tyre management and to put the tyres in the right window at the beginning of the lap. The balance is not perfect. It's true. But if it's true for us, I think it's true also for the others."

Ferrari's front wing hope

The opening day of the Spanish Grand Prix was very mixed for Ferrari, as Leclerc ended second practice in fifth, whilst Hamilton was 11th after suffering from a problem.

It marked the first track action with the new front wing regulations, reducing its flexibility. Interestingly, Ferrari introduced a new front wing in Barcelona. 

Despite the top five in second practice featuring four teams, Vasseur has insisted it is too soon to judge if the pack has tightened as a result.

"It's too early for us, but at the end of the day, it's not that you can expect to have big delta of lap time between the teams," added Vasseur. 

"But if you keep in mind, for example, Bahrain where we had the [top] five cars within three-tenths of a second, if the reaction of a team is plus or minus one-tenth, this on track will make a huge difference, mainly on the grid. 

"And then it's so difficult to overtake, that it can flip the situation."