Carlo Vanzini has shared advice directly with Ferrari Team Principal Fréd Vasseur ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season: “During the winter, you must not say anything…” This guidance sheds light on how the Scuderia of Maranello plans to approach the upcoming year.
Vasseur will need to adopt a different strategy for 2026, particularly to avoid repeating mistakes made at the start of 2025. After narrowly losing the Constructors’ Championship at the final race in Abu Dhabi, expectations were high for Ferrari to challenge McLaren for both titles. The arrival of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at Maranello further intensified those expectations. Even Charles Leclerc had stated he would be “disappointed” if Ferrari did not claim at least one of the two championships. As we now know, the 2025 season did not go according to plan, making this winter a crucial period for reflection and preparation.
In an interview with Sky F1 Italia, Carlo Vanzini offered advice to the French manager on how to handle the off-season. Fred Vasseur explained: “I don’t want to waste energy.”
Carlo Vanzini responded: “But during the winter, you must not say anything…” referring to public expectations for 2026. Fred Vasseur clarified his approach: “Honestly, it’s a different approach. Last year, when you started the season, you had Abu Dhabi 2024 in mind. This year, nobody knows. We can spend time discussing, planning strategies, or talking about others, but the truth is we don’t know. That means I don’t want to waste energy doing that; I want to focus on the team, on developing the car, on the collaboration between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, and on getting the most out of what we have.”
Ferrari’s strategy over the winter is clear: zero grand proclamations, keeping heads down, and working hard. For Fred Vasseur, this means focusing entirely on performance and teamwork. Any misstep in the 2026 car’s development could have significant consequences, potentially impacting Charles Leclerc’s future with the team and Fréd Vasseur’s position as Team Principal.
Technical director Loic Serra has introduced numerous updates to the concepts that will underpin the Ferrari 678, set to be unveiled at Fiorano on 23 January. Time is short, and the assembly of the new car will only be completed the day before its official reveal. Meanwhile, Ferrari is already preparing to counter Mercedes, who could dominate another regulatory cycle using yet another gray area in the rules.
For the Scuderia, the winter period is not about headlines or hype—it’s about precision, teamwork, and building a car capable of competing at the front in 2026. Keeping public statements to a minimum is a deliberate choice, ensuring all energy is focused on development and internal collaboration between Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and the entire Ferrari engineering team.
Fred Vasseur’s refusal to engage in preseason hype marks a significant cultural shift for the Maranello team. By focusing on the tangible synergy between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc rather than making bold promises, the team is attempting to build a more resilient foundation for the most important technical transition in recent Formula 1 history.
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