Fred Vasseur wants Ferrari to be on the ball from the first session in the Canadian Grand Prix

With only one practice session available for the Formula 1 teams to find the proper car setups, Vasseur is aware of the challenge facing his team this weekend.

The situation may be even trickier as the race takes place earlier than usual this year, with cooler conditions and forecasted mixed weather conditions making Ferrari and their rivals have to work harder on nailing the car setup from FP1 before heading immediately after that into Sprint Qualifying.

Previewing the Canadian Grand Prix, Vasseur said: "Canada is always a special event, with a great atmosphere in the city and at the track, and we know how much support Ferrari has there, including from the many tifosi with Italian roots.

"From a racing point of view, Montreal is never straightforward. The track is demanding on brakes, traction is important out of the slow corners and chicanes, and this year the weather and low temperatures could add another layer of complexity, especially with the Sprint format giving us limited preparation time.

"We will need to be on the ball from the first session, focus on execution, and make the most of every opportunity over the weekend," Vasseur concluded.

Ferrari will be racing with their upgraded SF-26 for the second time in Canada this weekend with their "Macarena" rear wing playing a role on the straights of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, boosting the car's top speed.

The Italian team did not maximize their weekend in Miami, which started promisingly only for their performance to fade as Mercedes and McLaren ended up fighting for wins.

Can Ferrari be in the mix this weekend in Montreal?