Vasseur warns Ferrari over ‘worst-case scenario’ in title fight

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has warned his squad over slipping into a “worst-case scenario” during the 2024 Formula 1 season.

An uptick in form from Ferrari as well as rivals McLaren has seen an increased challenge presented to Red Bull at recent rounds.

After Ferrari won in Australia following a non-finish for Max Verstappen, McLaren emerged victorious at the Miami Grand Prix before Ferrari won again last time out at Monaco.

Vasseur has highlighted that Ferrari now possesses more self-confidence and belief it can contend at the front of the field.

"It's not a matter of motivation because the motivation is there for a while,” Vasseur told media including RacingNews365. 

“It’s self-confidence for the drivers, for the team. As soon as you are in a position to win you pay more attention to details, you have a kind of snowball effect. 

“This is part of the improvement over the last six or seven months.”

Avoiding 'worst-case scenario'

Red Bull has won five out of the opening eight races and entered the year as heavy favourites following its highly dominant 2023 campaign.

While Ferrari has seemingly made strides this season, Vasseur warned against letting complacency creep into the situation.

"We have to continue like this, but the worst-case scenario would be to imagine that it's done, that it will be like this until the end.

"I'm convinced that, as I said before, we'll have different tracks with different layouts, different characteristics. 

“We are competing more with McLaren or Red Bull and it will be up and down until the end of the season.

"We have to score good points when we are not at the top and to be able to win when we are there. But nothing changes."