Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur believes the Scuderia is well positioned in the role of outsider as the 2026 Formula 1 season approaches.
Where does Ferrari stand?
After the positive impressions gathered during the Barcelona shakedown, Ferrari also appeared encouraged by the data collected on the SF-26 in Bahrain. Inside Maranello, however, no one is willing to make bold statements about the car’s true level of competitiveness or outright pace.
Some rivals, though, have already started to take notice. Drivers such as Lando Norris and Red Bull technical director Pierre Waché have mentioned Ferrari among the reference cars in this very early phase of the championship. It is a sign of respect that does not go unnoticed in the paddock, even if the Scuderia prefers to keep a low profile for now.
What Vasseur said
Speaking to the media on Friday during the first Bahrain test session, Frederic Vasseur made no secret of the fact that he appreciates not being at the center of media attention. “The fantastic thing is that nobody is talking about us! I like this situation, it allows us to focus only on ourselves,” he underlined with a laugh.
Fred Vasseur also explained that, at this stage, it is virtually impossible to determine the true competitive order. “Nobody knows yet. Nobody knows whether Mercedes is pushing the engine or not, and apparently they are not. And nobody knows if they are running with 20, 40 or 60 kilos of fuel. That can make an even bigger difference than the natural gap between two cars.”
The Ferrari team principal’s comments reflect the usual caution that surrounds pre-season testing in Formula 1. Fuel loads, engine modes and development programmes can significantly distort lap times, making any early judgment potentially misleading. For now, Ferrari seems content to work quietly in the background, gathering data and refining the SF-26 before the real battle begins on race weekend.
Fred Vasseur’s strategic modesty serves as a perfect smokescreen for a Ferrari team that, by all accounts, has produced a very stable and fast SF-26. While the Team Principal is happy to let the media focus on Mercedes‘ engine controversies or Red Bull’s new partnership with Ford, the internal data from Maranello suggests they are exactly where they need to be. In a sport as high-pressure as F1, being the “fantastic” secret of the paddock is a luxury that the French manager intends to exploit for as long as possible.
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