Fred Vasseur is not reading too much into Mercedes finishing ahead of Ferrari in FP2 at Monza, arguing that different fuel loads and engine modes make the true competitive picture difficult to interpret. After Ferrari had ended the opening practice session with a one-two, Mercedes responded strongly in FP2, but the Ferrari team principal believes Friday’s timesheets do not yet provide a definitive indication of the pecking order.
Mercedes finished the second practice session in first and third place with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, while the two Ferrari cars ended FP2 second and fifth. On paper, it represented a step backwards for the Scuderia after its impressive start to the Italian Grand Prix weekend, although Fred Vasseur was reluctant to draw that conclusion.
Fred Vasseur explains Ferrari-Mercedes Monza FP2 comparison
Assessing Friday’s running with journalists at Monza, Fred Vasseur stressed how difficult it is to compare the teams when their programmes, fuel levels and power unit settings may differ significantly from one session to another.
“I think that from one session to another we are all using different fuel levels and engine modes,” the French team principal explained. “It is very difficult to interpret, even for us. We just have to focus on ourselves and try to get the maximum. We should have some kind of convergence in the approach for FP3, but we will see. There is still a long way to go before Sunday.”
Those variables are particularly important at Monza, where power unit deployment and efficiency play a major role. Ferrari has also been working specifically on the SF-26 for the demands of the Italian circuit, including changes aimed at reducing drag and improving efficiency at Monza, while its power unit development has also been a major focus ahead of the home Grand Prix.
Fred Vasseur added that race pace could offer teams several strategic possibilities because of how electrical energy can be managed around the lap.
“It seems that for the race pace there are several options in terms of energy management. For sure, there will also be overtaking opportunities.”
The energy-management element is especially significant under Formula 1’s 2026 power unit regulations, and Ferrari’s approach to the weekend can be explored further in our analysis of why Ferrari’s Monza power unit development involves more than outright horsepower.
Ferrari rules out using slipstream tactics in qualifying
Another strategic difference between Ferrari and Mercedes could emerge in qualifying. Mercedes representative Bradley Lord and Kimi Antonelli have both suggested that the Italian driver could help George Russell by providing him with a slipstream. Kimi Antonelli already knows he will have to start from the back row because of his power unit change.
Fred Vasseur, however, ruled out Ferrari adopting a similar approach with its two drivers. His priority is to maximise the qualifying result of both cars rather than sacrifice one driver to assist the other.
“We have two cars, it is an advantage and I want to make use of both cars,” Fred Vasseur said. “We want to put both cars on the front rows. Of course, if we had one car that had to start from the back, we would use it to help the other qualify further ahead, like Isack Hadjar did with Max Verstappen at Spa. It is a smart move, but I prefer to have two cars at the front.”
That approach underlines Ferrari’s ambitions heading into the decisive sessions at Monza. Friday’s FP2 classification favoured Mercedes, but Fred Vasseur expects the different programmes to become more comparable in FP3, when the teams should move closer towards similar preparations ahead of qualifying.
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