Ferrari Thrives as Verstappen and Norris Battle for Title

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has emphasized that the rivalry between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris is “perfect” for the Scuderia’s championship ambitions. Following two strong performances, Ferrari has reduced the gap in the standings with Charles Leclerc leading a dominant 1-2 finish at the United States Grand Prix and Carlos Sainz winning in Mexico where Leclerc also secured the fastest lap in third.

Despite Ferrari’s recent successes, the focus on the intense on-track battles between title contenders Verstappen and Norris has overshadowed their achievements. While Verstappen’s Red Bull and Norris’s McLaren teams have been preoccupied with their rivalry, they have lost ground in the constructors’ championship aided by disappointing results from their teammates.

As a result, Ferrari now sits just 29 points behind McLaren in second place having overtaken the reigning champions, Red Bull. Vasseur views the media’s attention on the Norris-Verstappen feud as advantageous, allowing Ferrari to operate “under the radar.” He stated, “As long as you are all focused on Max and Norris, this is perfect for us.”

He believes the distraction surrounding the battle between team principals Toto Wolff (Mercedes), Christian Horner (Red Bull) and Zak Brown (McLaren) enables Ferrari to concentrate on its own strategy without external pressures. When asked how the rivalry benefits Ferrari, Vasseur replied, “It’s important for us to have no distraction.”

He highlighted the team’s clarity and focus on their car and management which allows them to take it race by race without being sidetracked by the broader championship narrative. Vasseur concluded that this focused approach is beginning to pay dividends for Ferrari as they aim to capitalize on the situation.