It seems that optimism is in short supply at Ferrari when looking ahead to the 2026 Formula 1 season. Find out what is really happening in Maranello.
The path Ferrari has chosen on the road to the 2026 F1 season is not merely a technical gamble; it represents a structural risk that is already beginning to show deep cracks. The words spoken by Fred Vasseur sound like a clear signal of a much larger problem, one that goes far beyond the idea of a single sacrificed season and instead directly concerns the team’s internal stability as it approaches the new regulatory cycle.
The Scuderia’s 2025 campaign was not only a difficult championship in terms of results, but also the direct consequence of a drastic strategic choice: stopping aerodynamic development of the car as early as April in order to focus personnel and resources entirely on the 2026 project. It was a decision taken with technical clarity and long-term intent, yet one that gradually drained the season of meaning, leaving the team without any realistic short-term competitive outlook.
The numbers tell the story in a brutally clear way. After finishing the 2024 season just 14 points behind McLaren, Ferrari found itself in 2025 with a gap of more than 400 points, relegated to fourth place and unable to keep pace with McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull. All of those teams continued developing their cars deep into the season, while Ferrari had already shifted its focus elsewhere.
What does Vasseur think about this failed strategy?
Looking back at that decision, Fred Vasseur admitted that not everything worked as expected, while still defending the underlying logic. “Something was missing, probably yes, because in the end, when we decided to switch to 2026, it meant that we were not confident about being able to catch McLaren before the end [of 2025],” explained the Team Principal. “That was the logic behind the decision and, honestly, I think it was a good decision.”
The most critical issue, however, does not concern lap times or pure performance, but rather the management of the group. This is an aspect that Fred Vasseur himself admits he underestimated, and it represents a serious warning sign heading into 2026. “What I probably underestimated, on a personal level, is the fact that when you know you are no longer going to develop the car, it becomes more difficult to keep everyone — motivated is not the right word — but with the right expectations, and this is important.”
In a team like Ferrari, where external pressure is constant and results are an integral part of the company’s culture, losing a clear sense of purpose during the season can have deep and long-lasting effects. “As a team, we have to stay in our own bubble and manage this kind of situation.”
Fred Vasseur’s statements do not simply describe an error of judgement; they highlight a fragility that risks becoming a heavy burden precisely at the moment when Ferrari should be presenting itself as more united than ever. In the original intentions, 2026 was supposed to represent a decisive turning point. Today, instead, it appears as an even more complex challenge, shaped by a 2025 season that has left consequences far more significant than initially expected.
Fred Vasseur’s admission reveals that Ferrari’s biggest hurdle for the 2026 season might not be the engine or the aero, but the human element of the team. By essentially “switching off” the 2025 season so early, the leadership inadvertently created a psychological vacuum that proved difficult to manage within the high-pressure environment of Maranello. As the 2026 launch approaches, the success of the SF-26 will depend on whether the French manager can successfully reinflate the morale of a team that has spent months operating without the immediate reward of competitive results.
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