Frederic Vasseur clear on what Ferrari ‘have to’ do in Las Vegas to upset McLaren

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Ferrari have lost ground to McLaren in the constructors’ championship fight, so team boss Frederic Vasseur is clear on what they ‘have to’ do in the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Sin City is the next stop on the tour for the travelling circus of Formula 1 as the 2024 season winds down. Only three rounds remain on the calendar to conclude the campaign, and Max Verstappen can even win a fourth successive drivers’ title at the Las Vegas GP next time out.

The Red Bull driver only needs to leave Las Vegas with a 60-point lead over Lando Norris for Verstappen to win the drivers’ championship. He currently holds a 62-point advantage with 86 left on the table. But the constructors’ championship is likely to run the distance in 2024.

Ferrari must ‘score plenty of points’ in the Las Vegas GP to upset McLaren in the constructors’ title fight

Carlos Sainz’s dominant victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix saw Ferrari usurp Red Bull and close to within 29 points of McLaren in the constructors’ championship. But a disappointing day at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix for Ferrari allowed McLaren to increase the gap to 36 points.

Despite Verstappen winning the Sao Paulo GP from 17th on the grid and McLaren star Norris failing to convert yet another pole position, Red Bull are 49 points behind the Woking squad. Sergio Perez’s ongoing plight after a third point-less race in the last five Grand Prix bit again.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

Ferrari team principal Vasseur feels the Las Vegas GP should suit the Scuderia more so than Sao Paulo, especially after the extreme rain in Brazil. But the Frenchman is clear that Sainz and Charles Leclerc must score big points in Sin City if they are to edge McLaren for the title.

Vasseur stated, via quotes by Speedweek: “We have been concentrating on next year’s car for several months now, nothing more is coming [upgrade-wise in 2024]. As far as the battle for the constructors’ championship is concerned, we take one race at a time.

“We don’t look left and right so much but we concentrate completely on optimising our own performance. I don’t know exactly what the points standings look like, and I don’t have to.

“When I saw how bad the weather was going to be, I already suspected that this would be difficult for us. Ultimately, we didn’t lose that much ground on McLaren, and things should go better for us in Las Vegas. We have to score plenty of points there.”

Lando Norris let Ferrari off the hook with his mistakes in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

The Sao Paulo GP could have gone much worse for Ferrari and their constructors’ title hopes had McLaren managed Norris’ race better and the Briton had a tidier race. Oscar Piastri gave Norris the F1 Sprint win at the Sao Paulo GP in a McLaren one-two and Norris then got pole.

Norris fluffed his lines off the grid to let George Russell lead the Sao Paulo GP into Turn 1. He then failed to overtake the Mercedes driver until the rain intensified. But McLaren matching the Silver Arrows by pitting as the conditions worsened saw Norris lose out due to a red flag.

READ MORE: Everything to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine

Leclerc would also go on to hold Norris off for P5 by 1.195 seconds at the chequered flag as Ferrari benefitted from the McLaren racer running straight on at Turn 1 when the Sao Paulo GP restarted. But Piastri brought his McLaren home in P8 after Sainz crashed out on Lap 38.

Now, attentions move to the Las Vegas GP and the outcome of last year’s inaugural race will encourage Ferrari more so than McLaren. Leclerc finished second to Verstappen when F1 hit the Las Vegas Strip in 2023 after scoring pole, while Norris crashed and Piastri only got P10.