Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur has poured cold water on Max Verstappen’s bold claim that he could have secured the 2024 Formula 1 title even earlier if he had been driving a Ferrari or McLaren. The Dutchman, who clinched his fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship in Las Vegas, suggested that rival machinery could have expedited his dominance—a statement Vasseur dismissed as overly simplistic and detached from the realities of F1.
“A Driver’s Performance Can’t Be Isolated from the Car”
Vasseur was quick to challenge Verstappen’s assertion, pointing out the complex interplay between driver skill, car performance, and team dynamics that defines Formula 1 success.
“It makes no sense to think or say that in another team Verstappen would have won the same since it is not possible to separate the performance of a driver from that of his car,” Vasseur told Autosprint. “There are too many elements involved.”
The Ferrari boss emphasized that the competitiveness of McLaren or Ferrari, which both brought substantial mid-season upgrades to challenge Red Bull, depended heavily on the feedback and input from their existing drivers.
“The quality level of Woking’s team also depends on feedback and work done with its current drivers,” Vasseur said, defending the contributions of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to McLaren’s success.
“A Tougher Year for Red Bull”
Vasseur acknowledged that Red Bull’s dominance waned in 2024 compared to previous years, where their car often had a performance buffer of up to six-tenths per lap. He noted that this year’s closer competition among teams exposed even minor mistakes by the Milton Keynes squad.
“In 2022 and 2023 the Red Bull was much better. When you have six-tenths [margin], you can make mistakes, and nobody notices it. This year, a small mistake was enough to drop them to sixth place.”
Despite disagreeing with Verstappen’s verdict, Vasseur praised the Dutchman’s resilience during Red Bull’s struggles. A mid-season slump saw Verstappen endure a 10-race winless streak before bouncing back with critical victories, including a remarkable recovery drive in Brazil.
“What impressed me about Verstappen this year was his ability to extract the best even when they struggled,” Vasseur said. “To win, you need to make a difference when you’re not in the right place – that’s where he has made a difference.”
“A Lesson for Ferrari”
Vasseur admitted that Verstappen’s ability to maximize results during Red Bull’s weaker races offered a valuable lesson for Ferrari, which often failed to capitalize on opportunities when not at the front.
“Over the course of a season in such a competitive context, there are races where we are not the strongest, but it is necessary to maximize the result,” Vasseur said. “That’s something we need to improve on.”
“The Debate Over Verstappen’s Hypothetical Dominance”
While Verstappen’s confidence in his abilities is well-founded given his exceptional track record, Vasseur’s argument underscores the intricate team dynamics that make success in Formula 1 a multifaceted achievement. A car’s competitiveness is as much a product of the driver’s feedback and collaboration as it is of the engineering team’s innovation.
As Ferrari and McLaren push to maintain their upward trajectories, and Red Bull works to reclaim its edge, the 2025 season promises another thrilling chapter in Formula 1’s ongoing battle for supremacy.