Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur has opened up on several key topics in an exclusive interview, including responding to Toto Wolff’s comments about the Scuderia’s budget cap spending. After the Mercedes boss suggested Ferrari could eventually run out of development resources, Fred Vasseur made it clear he was not concerned and explained why the team’s focus remains firmly on improving performance.
Speaking to Italy’s Corriere della Sera, the Frenchman also reflected on Ferrari’s progress so far this season, the strengths and weaknesses of the SF-26, and whether the Maranello-based squad can realistically challenge for the Formula 1 world championship.
Mixed feelings despite Ferrari’s progress
Ferrari has been one of the standout teams on the grid this season for several reasons. The SF-26 has proved exceptionally competitive through corners, while an aggressive development programme featuring increasingly innovative concepts has reportedly made the car around eight-tenths of a second faster than it was at the start of the campaign.
However, Ferrari has also paid the price for shortcomings in the design of its power unit. Asked whether he was satisfied with the opening part of the season, Fred Vasseur admitted his feelings were mixed.
“Mixed feelings. We’ve taken an important step forward compared to last year, with 62 more points. But my job is always to ask for more and keep pushing. We come from Austria, where we chose to fight the wrong battles. We wanted to be aggressive against Mercedes, and we paid the price for it. It was a good lesson,” he explained.
Ahead of the British GP, Fred Vasseur also acknowledged that Ferrari still has work to do in one crucial area.
“We need to be closer to Mercedes. We know we’re not the strongest when it comes to the engine. At some circuits it’s easier to compensate for that, while at others it’s much more difficult. This weekend and the next race at Spa will both be challenging, but they’ll also provide an excellent opportunity to extract the maximum from the package.”
Fred Vasseur responds to Toto Wolff’s budget cap remarks
During the interview, journalist Daniele Sparisci brought up Toto Wolff’s recent suggestion that Ferrari could eventually exhaust its budget cap if it continued introducing upgrades at its current pace.
Fred Vasseur wasted no time in responding: “When they told me about it, I thought it was a joke. I found it quite ironic that it came from Toto… I’ve never been interested in calculating either Mercedes’ developments or their budget. That’s something for the FIA to deal with. I don’t waste my energy on it, and I’m not worried at all about Ferrari’s plans.”
With Mercedes currently setting the benchmark, the French manager was also asked whether ending their dominance would require waiting until the 2027 season.
“Hopefully we’ll manage it before then. We already did it in Barcelona. We also need to perform well during the difficult weekends, because that’s where you learn how to win championships.”
Ferrari remains focused on the long-term goal
As for whether Ferrari can still fight for the Formula 1 title by the end of the season, Fred Vasseur refused to make bold predictions or promises: “It’s not about making announcements. It’s simply about working, having the right mindset, the right tools and the right people. We’re moving in that direction—we just need to stay focused.”
Although Ferrari has demonstrated significant gains with the SF-26 and continues to introduce major upgrades, Fred Vasseur’s comments underline that the team believes consistent execution and continued development will ultimately be just as important as outright pace if it wants to return to championship-winning form.
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