Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has raised concerns about a potentially dangerous bump before Turn 1 at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, after Charles Leclerc’s SF-26 was violently unsettled by the uneven surface, leaving the Monegasque with back pain. The French manager hopes the FIA will address the problem, while also acknowledging Ferrari’s encouraging Friday performance and discussing an advantage that has once again brought his assessment into contrast with Lewis Hamilton’s.
After Charles Leclerc demonstrated strong pace and balance during Friday practice, Ferrari is awaiting FP3, scheduled for 18:30 CET, to establish whether that competitiveness can be maintained. However, many questions will remain unanswered until the final phase of qualifying, when rival teams typically extract more power from their power units and can make significant performance gains.
Charles Leclerc appeared comfortable with the SF-26, whereas Lewis Hamilton’s running was interrupted by a technical problem. Despite the positive indications, Fred Vasseur is urging patience rather than making predictions about Ferrari’s chances.
Fred Vasseur raises Mexico GP safety concern over bump before Turn 1
Discussing Ferrari’s Friday running, Fred Vasseur stressed that the team must concentrate on improving the car rather than becoming overly confident about its position in the competitive order.
“It’s not up to me to be confident or not. We have to work, we have to try to get the most out of tomorrow [Saturday]. The conditions are very difficult, as we already knew because of the altitude. It’s a challenge for us, but also for the others. The track is very bumpy, perhaps even a little too much in the section before Turn 1. It’s almost dangerous. We’ll have to make some changes tonight, but overall I think it was a good start to the weekend. There’s still a long way to go,” Fred Vasseur explained.
The Ferrari team principal is hoping the FIA will address the section where a depression in the circuit surface caused Charles Leclerc’s SF-26 to bounce sharply, leaving the driver with back pain.
The concern adds another complication to Ferrari’s preparations, despite the promising speed demonstrated during the opening two practice sessions. The Maranello team must balance its efforts to improve performance with the challenges created by the circuit’s uneven surface.
Ferrari adjusts SF-26 setup to cope with Mexico City’s extreme altitude
Mexico City’s altitude presents an unusual aerodynamic challenge. With thinner air limiting the downforce generated by the cars, drivers are more likely to experience sliding, which can increase tyre temperatures and complicate grip management.
Ferrari has responded with specific technical choices, including fully enclosed wheel rims and wheel covers designed to bring the front tyres into their operating window more quickly.
These adjustments form part of the wider challenge of finding the right balance at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Fred Vasseur had already highlighted the cooling and grip difficulties facing Ferrari at the Mexico City Grand Prix, where the environmental conditions differ considerably from those encountered at most other circuits.
Friday’s performance suggests that Ferrari has established a promising starting point, although the team must continue refining its setup ahead of qualifying.
Fred Vasseur discusses Ferrari advantage amid contrasting Lewis Hamilton views
Another important technical consideration concerns Ferrari’s power unit. Its slightly smaller turbocharger could provide an advantage in Mexico’s unusual conditions, particularly by reducing the delay between the driver’s throttle demand and the power unit’s response.
Fred Vasseur’s assessment of the potential advantage contrasts with the position previously expressed by Lewis Hamilton, although the team principal also emphasised that the competitive situation remains far from settled.
“Yes, it’s an advantage, but everyone will improve, everyone will refine their cars to take the altitude into account. It’s true that the conditions are extremely different from those we normally encounter and, for the drivers, driving here in Mexico City with this level of downforce is a challenge. They were used to having the highest-downforce wing of the entire season. I think the difference compared with last year is much smaller at Monza than at Monaco or in Mexico, and that makes the situation even more challenging for them.”
The Ferrari team principal therefore recognises a potential benefit while warning that other teams will continue adapting their cars to the conditions. Any advantage observed during Friday practice could change as the weekend progresses and rivals refine their configurations.
Ferrari’s technical development has already been an important subject following the SF-26 updates introduced at Austin and the different demands presented by Mexico.
Ferrari awaits FP3 before assessing its true Mexico GP potential
For Ferrari, the next objective is to confirm its encouraging pace while resolving the issues identified during Friday’s running. Charles Leclerc’s strong feeling with the SF-26 provides optimism, but Lewis Hamilton’s interrupted session and the concerns about the circuit surface underline the work still required.
Qualifying will offer a more meaningful assessment of Ferrari’s competitiveness, particularly when rival power units are pushed harder. The differences in Friday running can also be explored through the F1 practice and long-run analysis, which allows comparisons between drivers and sessions.
Fred Vasseur’s message remains cautious despite the promising beginning. Ferrari has shown competitive pace, but the unusual altitude, potential improvements from its rivals and the problematic section before Turn 1 mean the team still has important challenges to address before qualifying.
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