Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has urged caution ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season opener, stressing that it is too early to make predictions for Melbourne and that the Australian Grand Prix will not decide the championship. Speaking after the on-track launch of Ferrari’s new SF-26 at Fiorano, Vasseur highlighted the importance of looking at the long-term picture, particularly in a season with 24 Grands Prix and six Sprint races.
Too early to make predictions
In the fast-moving world of Formula 1, Vasseur emphasized the need for patience. As the Scuderia aims to recover from a disappointing 2025 campaign that ended without a win and in fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship, he acknowledged that the first race of the year cannot provide definitive answers about the season ahead. In response to journalists asking about Ferrari’s expectations for the Melbourne GP on March 8, he explained that it is simply too early to know what will happen.
Vasseur underlined that the team’s focus is on working, developing, and improving the car, and that while bringing the SF-26 to the track without issues was a positive step, there is still a long road ahead. He added that the pace of development in 2026 is expected to be far higher than in previous seasons.
One race out of 24
The fact that all teams are essentially starting from scratch this year suggests a season where performance may vary greatly depending on the track and the time of year. Teams that begin strongly may encounter setbacks later in development, while those facing early challenges could gain a performance advantage in the second half of the season. For this reason, Vasseur stressed that it would be misleading to draw firm conclusions from the outcome of the first race, whatever it may be.
He reiterated that no one knows what the situation will be in a few weeks, but Ferrari must focus on gathering data, developing the car, and concentrating on their own performance. Melbourne is just the beginning, not the endpoint of the season, and he expects an intensive development race throughout the year. Regarding aerodynamics, he mentioned that Ferrari is still making significant progress this week, and the same applies to all teams. Vasseur concluded that the priority is to stay focused on their own work, ensuring strong development over the next two weeks and throughout the season, while keeping expectations in check for the season opener.
