Ferrari is already preparing for the revolutionary 2026 Formula 1 season. Everything will change, and team principal Frédéric Vasseur is urging patience, calm, and meticulous attention to detail. He believes the new era will deliver an unpredictable World Championship in which different teams will shine in different areas. According to Fred Vasseur, simply having a strong power unit will not guarantee victories. He explained: “Some will be fast at Monza and others will win at Monte Carlo, just like in the old days of turbo engines versus naturally aspirated ones.”
Once the summer break is over, ten races will remain to complete the 2025 campaign, a championship dominated by McLaren, who are the undisputed leaders of the Constructors’ standings. The Woking-based team is reaping the rewards of a long-term project that has been steered with authority by team principal Andrea Stella and has now reached its peak. But in just a few months everything will change with the new regulations, and at this stage, it is impossible to predict which teams will adapt best to the new competitive landscape.
Some observers are forecasting another Mercedes era, given the team’s hybrid expertise and the dominance they showed between 2014 and 2020. However, those rumors have little concrete basis, because rivals have accumulated far more experience compared to a decade ago. What will really matter in 2026 will be the combination of multiple factors: not only the power unit, but also the chassis design, fuel efficiency, and tyre management. Formula 1 is heading into a completely new chapter, one full of challenges and opportunities, and Ferrari is determined not to be caught unprepared.
Fred Vasseur: “We must improve in every area, even McLaren does not have a magic wand”
In a wide-ranging interview with Auto Motor und Sport, Ferrari’s team boss explained his vision for the future: “McLaren are working really well, but they do not have a magic wand. They gain tenths by adding together many small details. We must continue to improve in every single area. There are no shortcuts.”
Fred Vasseur stressed that no one can predict if a single team will dominate under the new regulations: “Nobody can say whether one team will escape from the rest in 2026. The changes are huge: chassis, engine, fuel, tyres, sporting regulations. The decisive detail could be hidden anywhere. The engine, for example, will no longer be just a matter of power but of drivability. One car might be strong at Monza, another might be the one to beat in Monte Carlo. Just like in the days of turbo versus naturally aspirated engines.”
For Fred Vasseur, the ability to react quickly in development will be one of the most decisive factors: “Being able to respond fast will be a powerful weapon. And for the fans, it will be fascinating to watch: if a team suddenly finds half a second with the tyres or with the chassis, it will be extremely difficult to make up for that just with the engine.”
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