‘Hmm’… Ted Kravitz thinks Fred Vasseur hinted at Ferrari masterplan vs McLaren at Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Follow us on Google Discover

McLaren were the class of the field in Sprint qualifying ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix as they locked out the front row of the grid.

Oscar Piastri will line up on pole position ahead of Lando Norris, who is critically ahead of his title rival and the championship leader Max Verstappen.

McLaren were very impressive at the start of the weekend, enjoying the benefits of a new, circuit-specific rear wing and having strong top speed.

Ferrari were also competitive and will start the Sprint in third and fifth places, with Charles Leclerc ahead of Carlos Sainz.

The Italian outfit’s team principal, Fred Vasseur, may have hinted at Ferrari’s strategy for the rest of the weekend in an interview with Sky Sports F1 reporter Ted Kravitz.

The interviewer was intrigued by Vasseur’s response after Sprint qualifying ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Fred Vasseur explained the Grand Prix is the most important part of the weekend and they need to ‘build up’ with the tyres

Sprint weekends after a different prospect to more conventional Grand Prix events, with just one practice session and two races to prepare for.

This emphasises finding a competitive setup quickly and adapting to any track changes, such as in Brazil where the circuit was resurfaced, making it bumpier.

The 10 teams also have a more restricted allocation of tyres over a Sprint weekend. Vasseur may have hinted that managing this could be key to beating McLaren.

Vasseur explained that Ferrari had good pace in Sprint qualifying but their strategy is centred around Sunday and the 71-lap race.

READ MORE: Ferrari will offer Haas 21-point F1 driver if they need to call up Oliver Bearman next season

He said: “P3, P5, it’s a good result. Let’s be focused on the race tomorrow. We have to keep in mind also that the most important will be Sunday. It means that in terms of strategy for the tyres and so that we have to build up the weekend on Sunday.”

Kravitz was surprised by Vasseur’s answer and comments around tyre selection for the rest of the weekend heading into the Grand Prix.

He responded: “Hmm… okay, so do you have some tyre… I like to read what you’re saying, Fred. Do you have some tyre preservation strategies that might mean your pace will only be seen on Sunday, not necessarily in qualifying?”

Ferrari are battling for the Constructors’ Championship with McLaren and Red Bull

Ferrari have had inconsistencies at times this season but the Italian team were quick on a range such circuits such as Monaco and at the Italian Grand Prix.

They are now second in the Constructors’ Championship with four rounds to go, as both McLaren and Ferrari have usurped Red Bull.

The Italian manufacturer have been the team to beat over the past couple of weekends. Norris is pushing his McLaren teammate Piastri to help keep Ferrari behind in the season’s closing stages.

With only four rounds left, the championship battle could go down to the final race in Abu Dhabi with three teams in contention, although Red Bull’s Sergio Perez is struggling.