Sainz win validated 'right direction' for Ferrari - Vasseur

Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur believes Carlos Sainz's win during the Singapore Grand Prix gave the team "confirmation" that it is heading in the right development direction.

The SF-23 started off as a continuation of the F1-75, but it suffered from the same tyre degradation and inconsistencies that plagued the 2022 machine.

At the Spanish Grand Prix, Ferrari switched car concepts and moved away from the 'bathtub' design of sidepods in favour of the downwash effect, which is a popular trend due to the success of Red Bull.

While it did not bring immediate success to the team, Ferrari has worked at understanding its package, with a breakthrough made in practice at the Dutch Grand Prix, with Sainz going onto take pole and a podium in Italy before winning from pole in Singapore to halt Red Bull's unbeaten run.

Vasseur: We did a decent step in the right direction

Ferrari is locked in a battle for second in the Constructors' Championship with Mercedes, but Vasseur believes the win in Singapore gave the team "confidence" for the future.

"It's important in terms of points, in terms of reward," Vassuer told media, including RacingNews365.

"But I think the most important for us is that we have an extra push, to have the confirmation that we are going in the right direction - to build up the confidence for the drivers, for the team, for the factory.

"It's for sure on this that you are building up for the future, and I think we did a decent step in this direction."

When asked if he expected to get a win in his first season as Ferrari Team Principal, Vasseur said: "I never asked myself this kind of question.

"This is that you are doing the job and you're trying to get the best from what you have, and to push.

"But you don't plan before the season, that we'd have to win one or two races, or we'd have to do this or this - if you start like this, [then] you are starting on the wrong foot."