Loic Serra is set to lead Ferrari’s technical direction for the 2026 car, and Team Principal Fréd Vasseur has stepped in to defend him following some criticism during the 2025 season. Is Vasseur taking a shot at former technical director Enrico Cardile? Here’s what he said.
The current Ferrari car will be developed under Loic Serra’s guidance. However, during the 2025 season, some of the SF-25’s shortcomings were attributed to him. Fred Vasseur emphasized Serra’s commitment to the 2026 project while pointing out that Enrico Cardile was responsible for the previous underperforming car.
Speaking to a select group of journalists during a Christmas event, Vasseur clarified key points about Ferrari’s approach to the first tests with the 678, the official name of which will only be revealed on January 23. The car will immediately hit the track at Fiorano with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Responsibility lies heavily on Fred Vasseur and his lead technical figure, Loic Serra. Motorsport.com reports his comments.
“First Vasseur car? More of Loic Serra”
When asked, “During the past season, you emphasized that a large part of the work on the SF-25 was done by Enrico Cardile before leaving the team. Can we say that the 2026 car will be the first true car of Fréd Vasseur?” he replied: “It’s more Loic Serra’s car. I don’t want to shy away from responsibility, but if we talk about Enrico Cardile, then we must also talk about Loic. Enrico left the team in June 2024, which means that when Loic joined at the beginning of October 2024, the car was almost completely designed. That’s why I was a bit upset when, at one point in the season, some media criticized Loic; I think it was somewhat unfair. Ultimately, next year’s car is not his first ‘child,’ he’s had others before, but it is Loic’s first true project.”
We know that Fred Vasseur is heavily involved in the final technical decisions on the project, but Serra sets the direction. According to FormulaPassion.it, “for Serra, the most difficult task in 2026 will be assembling the performance, with the obligation to put everything together and create a balanced project without necessarily excelling in any single area.”
The engineer has worked closely with both drivers to improve drivability and put them at the center of the development process.
Fred Vasseur’s defense of Loic Serra serves as a clear summary of Ferrari’s internal shift, moving the accountability for past technical failures onto Enrico Cardile while establishing the 2026 car as Serra’s first true legacy project. By shielding Serra from early criticism, the French manager is ensuring his Technical Director has the stability needed to integrate Hamilton and Leclerc into a balanced, winning package for the new era of Formula 1.
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