Press Conference in Baku: Ferrari vs McLaren Right from the Start

by Walter Izzo

The press conference in Baku already gives a glimpse of the brewing rivalry between Ferrari and McLaren. The exchange between Vasseur and Stella sets the stage.

The Azerbaijan GP weekend is finally here! After two weeks of waiting, F1 concludes its European tour and heads to Baku before the American leg and later Singapore. The Azerbaijan race is crucial for the 2024 season, potentially marking a three-way battle for the Constructors’ Championship, and an (as yet hypothetical) duel between Norris and Verstappen for the Drivers’ title. Baku is set to provide key insights for the final sprint of September and October: the effectiveness of Ferrari’s upgrades, Red Bull’s recovery, and the uncertainty around Mercedes. All of these are perfect questions for a high-stakes weekend.

At the Baku press conference, Vasseur challenges Stella: will it be another duel? Pictured Fred Vasseur and Ferrari’s drivers

But the main topic of today’s press conference in Baku is undoubtedly the upcoming clash between McLaren and Ferrari. The “Papayas” have 12 consecutive podiums and boast the best car on the grid since mid-season, while Ferrari, after a lackluster summer, reignited their championship dreams with a win at Monza. Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team principal, had this to say: “After leaving Monza with two more trophies, we are now preparing for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.”

Baku always offers exciting races for the fans and presents an interesting challenge for us as a team. We have a competitive car in all conditions and two exceptional drivers who consistently deliver important points for the team, so we are eager to begin the final third of the season.” Responding to Stella’s clear optimism, Fred Vasseur, Ferrari’s team principal, struck back: “Baku is unique. Historically, we’ve always been quite competitive on this track, morale is high after the Monza win, and we’re determined to maintain our current form, though we expect another very tight battle between the top four teams.”

“I often say that it’s important for us to focus on ourselves, and I believe that’s the right approach because we’ve seen huge shifts in the team hierarchy compared to the start of the season. Our victory in Italy shows that how we approach the weekend, from Friday to Sunday, can be just as crucial as the car’s performance level. With Charles and Carlos, we’ll once again aim for a perfect execution in Baku, striving to bring home another important result for the team”.

The words of the McLaren drivers

The now-famous “Papaya Rules” seen in Monza didn’t yield exactly what McLaren had hoped. After an extraordinary weekend in Italy, the Woking-based team sees a clear opportunity to overtake in the Constructors’ Championship: only 8 points behind Red Bull, it’s a golden chance for Andrea Stella and Zak Brown’s squad, who have long been favorites to win the title. Backing up the optimism of the Italian team principal are the two drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, both believing in yet another consecutive podium (which would be the thirteenth).

Press conference at Baku: Piastri e Norris hopeful for McLaren in Azerbaijan. Pictured Piastri at Monza

Oscar Piastri took the lead, commenting: “I can’t wait to return to Azerbaijan. It’s been a while since we last raced on a street circuit, and Baku always brings exciting races and great opportunities. I’m confident about what we can achieve, especially considering the performance of our car. The upgrades have proven effective, and we’ve shown competitiveness on all types of tracks. Last week, I returned to the McLaren Technology Centre to prepare for this back-to-back challenge. We’ve scored a lot of points in every race so far, and we hope this weekend will be no exception. I want to win”.

Lando Norris shares the same mindset, having reduced the gap to Max Verstappen to 62 points in the Drivers’ standings after securing third place in Monza: “It was incredible to finish the last European race with a podium for the 12th consecutive Grand Prix. Together with my engineers, we thoroughly analyzed our performance in Monza, identifying areas for improvement both personally and as a team. Our goal is clear, and I have complete trust in the team to continue working and progressing. With both championships still in play, we are more determined than ever. I’m proud of the team’s work, and I’m excited to see what we can achieve this weekend.”

In short, the battle with Verstappen and Ferrari is more open than ever.

Photo: Scuderia Ferrari HP, McLaren

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