Fred Vasseur Hospitalised Ahead of Qualifying

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur will not be present for Saturday’s qualifying session at the Monaco Grand Prix. The 58-year-old Frenchman was hospitalised following medical checks and will remain under observation at a local medical facility. The specific medical reason for his hospitalisation has not been disclosed by the team.

Ferrari issued a statement on Saturday morning confirming Vasseur’s absence. The statement read that “following some medical checks, Fred will remain under observation at a local medical facility,” and added that “no further medical information will be provided.” The team concluded by wishing Vasseur a speedy recovery and expressed their hope to see him back at the track soon.

Vasseur had been present trackside on Friday, participating in media duties. His drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, secured one-two finishes in both practice sessions on Friday, indicating a strong performance for the team ahead of the weekend.

Practice Session Performance and Expectations

Despite Ferrari’s strong showing in Friday’s practice sessions, Vasseur had cautioned against high expectations for pole position. Speaking on Friday, he emphasised the significant difference between practice and the actual qualifying and race events. He noted that anticipating the evolution of the track and grip levels is a challenge for both teams and drivers.

Vasseur, who has served as Ferrari’s F1 team boss since 2023, stated, “We have to do a job. It’s a very long way from Friday to qualifying and the race.” He added that the real pace of the cars would become clear on Saturday afternoon during qualifying.

Lewis Hamilton, who finished in the top spot during the second practice session on Friday, also commented on the team’s performance. He described Friday as a “positive day overall” and noted that the car felt good from the initial laps. Hamilton highlighted the team’s solid work in making changes between sessions and completing their programme without major issues.

Hamilton acknowledged the unique challenges of the Monaco circuit, including the bumps and the close proximity of the barriers. He mentioned that finding the right balance and putting everything together is not easy. He also indicated that there is still performance to be found and that the team would focus on details overnight, as margins are very small in Monaco, requiring significant work before qualifying.

Qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix is scheduled for 3pm BST on Saturday afternoon. This session is considered one of the most important of the season due to the often processional nature of Sunday’s race.

Source: independent.co.uk

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