Vasseur: Lusail track another stern test for the SF-23

Ferrari did not have an enjoyable inaugural Qatar Grand Prix in 2021 as Carlos Sainz and Charles finished seventh and eighth respectively, and it seems this year will be no difference as Fred Vasseur expect the team's SF-23 to struggle around the Lusail circuit.

"On paper, the Lusail track looks like being another stern test for the SF-23," Vasseur said in Ferrari's Qatar Grand Prix preview.

"Ever since Zandvoort, we have learned a lot about how best to manage our package and once again in Qatar, we will do our best to give Charles and Carlos a car with which they can fight in the very close battles we have seen at every race, fought out to the nearest thousandths, behind the championship leaders," he added.

"This will be the first time we race in Qatar with the current generation of ground effect cars and we have just one free practice session, as this is another Sprint weekend," the Frenchman pointed out.

"It means that the preparation work carried out back in the factory and in the simulator takes on even greater importance and we feel well prepared.

"Once again, the aim is to bring home as many points as possible as we continue to fight for second place in the Constructors’ classification," Vasseur concluded.

Ferrari are currently third in the 2023 F1 Constructors' Championship, trailing second-placed Mercedes by a mere 20 point with six grand prix weekends remaining.

Vasseur has declared that the Scuderia will be taking the fight to Mercedes, while Toto Wolff admitted his squad is relishing the fight with their Red rivals.

Ferrari remain the only team to win a race in 2023 aside from Red Bull, as Sainz won the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix.