Fréd Vasseur spoke about Ferrari’s work with the SF-26 during the 2026 Bahrain tests and sent a clear message regarding the Mercedes engine controversy. The Ferrari Team Principal addressed the team’s performance across the three days of testing and also shared his perspective on the debate surrounding Mercedes’ power unit advantage.
While Lewis Hamilton continued the final day of testing in Bahrain, Fred Vasseur spoke to the media for the first time this season. He covered several topics, from Ferrari’s progress to the ongoing discussion about Mercedes’ engine performance. Here are his words to Sky Sport F1.
Fred Vasseur: “I think we are on the right track. Clarity on the PU is essential”
“The goal? When we started the season, it was to make the most of the first two or three sessions, and so far everything has gone well in terms of mileage. We haven’t had major problems, which is important for preparation and also for collecting data. Now we have a few days at the factory between sessions, giving us the opportunity to analyze the data and try to improve the car and better understand various engine procedures, etc. That’s why I think we are on the right track. It has nothing to do with performance; that will be a separate matter, but it was important to reach this level of reliability.”
In short, Ferrari is focused solely on completing useful mileage and gathering data on both the car and its reliability. Nothing more, nothing less. Early updates also reveal a fairly aggressive approach from Maranello in terms of design, reminding everyone that the SF-26 will continue to evolve next week. “The main thing is that we have many different topics, many development areas, many things to understand, and completing the program successfully without issues is the best way to tackle all of this. Then, we know perfectly well that once we arrive in Melbourne, we will focus on the performance for that weekend, and it will certainly be more difficult to make progress in that area. But we still have two weeks to make significant gains.”
Once back at the factory, Ferrari will analyze the critical points that emerge, even though so far it seems the SF-26 has started on a solid foundation. Talking about performance, however, is something Fred Vasseur wants to leave until the first race. Finally, he addressed the controversy over Mercedes’ compression ratio, which is believed to give them an advantage: “The Mercedes power unit controversy? I’m not hoping for anything in particular, I just hope clarity is achieved. Right now, clarity is needed. Yes, of course, because it’s not good to let this situation drag on. There are several issues, and I don’t want to go into that territory. The F1 Commission will meet next week, and I believe that will be the appropriate forum to resolve the matter.” The FIA seems inclined to amend the regulations before the season starts, so we will have to wait and see.
Fred Vasseur’s call for clarity underscores the importance of the 2026 engine regulations, where a single technical interpretation could define the pecking order for years to come. While Ferrari remains satisfied with the SF-26’s mechanical resilience, the political battle off the track is heating up, suggesting that the first “victory” of the season might actually be claimed in an F1 Commission meeting room rather than on the asphalt of Melbourne.
Leave a Reply