F1 News: Ferrari Chief Responds to Carlos Sainz’s Clutch Criticism - "Struggling"

Frederic Vasseur acknowledges Carlos Sainz’s frustration with Ferrari's clutch issues in Brazil, committing to resolving the challenges while maintaining a positive outlook on the team's capabilities.

Ferrari's team principal Frederic Vasseur has addressed Carlos Sainz's vocal criticism concerning the team's clutch issues during a fraught Brazilian Grand Prix. Sainz's recovery drive to sixth place after early troubles underscored the resilience of the Ferrari team amidst technical challenges.

Key Takeaways:

• Carlos Sainz communicated his frustration over the radio regarding Ferrari's ongoing clutch problems during the Brazilian Grand Prix, which caused a significant drop in his starting position.
• Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari's team principal, commented on the matter, expressing that the team will review the clutch issue, though in-season modifications are limited.
• Despite the early setback, Sainz managed to finish in sixth place, aiding Ferrari to close in on Mercedes in the Constructors' Championship, as Vasseur downplayed the gravity of Sainz's remarks.

In the aftermath of a challenging start at the São Paulo Grand Prix, where Ferrari's Carlos Sainz dropped from seventh to 13th due to a clutch issue, team principal Frederic Vasseur has offered insights into the team's reaction to the Spanish driver's critical comments. The incident, compounded by Charles Leclerc's exit from the race before it had even begun, put Ferrari on the defensive early on.

Over the team radio, a clearly frustrated Sainz didn't mince words: 

“I just hope we bin this clutch, as soon as we’re back in Maranello." 

Despite his discontent, Sainz's performance did not waver, as he later carved his way through the pack to a commendable sixth-place finish.

Ferrari Press Image

Vasseur acknowledged the struggles faced by Sainz at Interlagos, particularly emphasising the false start issue that contributed to the Spaniard's initial drop. 

“On the first start he had a false start, we need to understand exactly what’s happened on the first one.

"We are struggling a little bit with the start and but it's marginal. If you have a look on the second one, this new one went pretty well."

He also mentioned the contrasting nature of the starts, with the second one showing improvement, thus highlighting the inconsistency that has plagued Ferrari's season.

The event marked a continued saga of reliability issues for the Maranello-based squad, with Vasseur's subsequent dismissal of any serious concern over Sainz's outburst signalling an internal belief that such challenges can be overcome.

Ferrari Press Image