Frederic Vasseur ready to do battle with good friend Toto Wolff in the 2023 Formula 1 season
Frederic Vasseur
New Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur says he has a good relationship with Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff but is determined to beat him in 2023.
Ferrari began last season very strongly, with many expecting them to give Red Bull a real battle for the Championship. Some even suggested they were the favourites.
However, a series of bad luck, bizarre strategy calls and driver errors allowed Red Bull to drive into the sunset and claim both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships with ease.
Mercedes were almost the opposite, making a strong comeback towards the end of the season after a dreadful start to the campaign. Most are expecting them to be among the leaders again in 2023.
The racing between Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes are likely to be intense this season and some have questioned whether Vasseur's friendship with Wolff will survive the on-track rivalry.
"I know that we will fight on track, we'll fight to the stewards, we'll fight in the FIA, we'll fight [over] the Concorde Agreement," Vasseur said. "And this is life.
"I think for the global picture, it's an advantage to have a very good collaboration between teams," he explained.
"When the common interest of the teams [and] F1 will be to have a discussion and to find an agreement, I think it will be a huge advantage to have a good relationship. I have good relationships with [several] of my colleagues, and I think this is always good.
"[But you can] be sure that I will fight like hell with Toto on track and [off] the track."
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