Fred Vasseur: ‘In Monaco we made progress in qualifying, we must continue like this” | F1 Barcelona GP. Ferrari approaches the Spanish GP with optimism after progress in Monaco.

F1 awaits the FIA technical directive
Formula 1 is back on track immediately after the double-header in Imola and Monte Carlo, but all eyes – especially those of Ferrari and Frederic Vasseur – are on Barcelona, where there is anticipation to see if and how the balance of power on track might shift with the introduction of the new FIA technical directive. Starting from the Spanish GP, stricter checks on front wing flexibility will be enforced, and it’s no secret that the Scuderia’s team principal sees this change as a potential “game changer” that could even upset the current competitive order.

Fred Vasseur and Ferrari’s hopes for Barcelona
Following the second place in the Monaco GP, Ferrari heads to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Montmeló with renewed hope of beginning a charge to catch McLaren and Red Bull, perhaps putting Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in contention for more podiums and victories – or at the very least playing the role of kingmakers in the fight at the top between Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen. The Catalan track is also historically one of the best testing grounds for putting Formula 1 cars under pressure – not by chance were preseason tests usually held here – and it provides clues as to what might unfold in the second half of the championship.

The explanation of what could change (and what might not) with the new flexible wing directive is discussed in the May 28 episode of our podcast WarmUp
“The Spanish Grand Prix,” explained the Scuderia team principal on the eve of the trip to Montmeló, “marks the beginning of the second third of the season, and Barcelona is a circuit well known to teams and drivers. We’re coming off two positive races, and in Monaco we also made progress in qualifying. The goal for the weekend is to stay on this path. In Barcelona, more stringent static tests on front wing flexibility will also debut, and that will be another factor to take into account.” Fred Vasseur and Ferrari can only hope for a shift in the balance of power seen in the first eight races of the 2025 Formula 1 season…