Frédéric Vasseur says Ferrari has put its difficult Italian Grand Prix behind it and is now completely focused on the new Formula 1 challenge awaiting Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in Madrid. After disappointment, controversy and Charles Leclerc’s heavy Monza accident, the Ferrari team principal wants the Scuderia to treat the Madring weekend as a fresh opportunity.
The new Madrid circuit represents unfamiliar territory for Formula 1, although Ferrari does have a small head start of sorts: Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both drove at Madring during a Filming Day in July. Frédéric Vasseur stressed, however, that the limited running did not amount to a proper test and that Ferrari will still have plenty to learn from the opening laps on Friday.
Ferrari leaves difficult Monza weekend behind
Less than a week has passed since the Italian Grand Prix, where Ferrari endured a painful home race in front of the tifosi. Lewis Hamilton finished sixth, while Charles Leclerc suffered a violent impact at the exit of Curva Alboreto that left the Monegasque dazed.
The opening phase of the race also generated controversy between the two Ferrari drivers after Charles Leclerc forced Lewis Hamilton into the gravel. The incident became another major talking point during a weekend when the Hamilton-Leclerc debate threatened to overshadow Ferrari’s wider Monza problems.
As with the rest of the Formula 1 paddock, however, Ferrari can no longer afford to dwell on what happened at Monza. The championship immediately moves on to another challenge, this time on completely different terrain.
Ferrari prepares for new Madring F1 circuit in Madrid
The Scuderia now heads to Spain and the newly created Madring circuit, built around the IFEMA exhibition centre and set to host the Spanish Grand Prix. The Madrid race forms the next round of the 2026 Formula 1 calendar and presents an entirely new challenge for the championship.
Ferrari’s two drivers have at least seen the venue from inside an F1 car before the race weekend. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc visited Madring during Ferrari’s summer Filming Day, giving them an initial opportunity to become familiar with the layout. That experience, however, was not comparable to a conventional test and did not allow either driver to explore the circuit in depth.
The new venue has already attracted attention after Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc sampled the Madrid circuit, but Frédéric Vasseur expects the real learning process to begin when competitive running starts.
Frédéric Vasseur: Ferrari must adapt quickly in Madrid
For Frédéric Vasseur, the most important task is to reset after Monza and maximise every session on a circuit that differs significantly from the high-speed Italian venue.
“We’ve put Monza behind us and we are fully focused on Madrid and on the opportunity that every new race weekend represents. Madring is a completely new challenge for Formula 1 and, although Charles and Lewis had the chance to start getting to know the track during our Filming Day in July, there will be a lot for everyone to learn from the very first laps on Friday.”
“The circuit has very different characteristics compared with the one we raced on last weekend and, on a new track, it will be particularly important to adapt quickly and make the most of every session. We have to approach the weekend one session at a time, focus on ourselves and work as a team to maximise the potential of both cars.”
Ferrari therefore arrives in Madrid looking for an immediate response after one of its most disappointing weekends of the season. Frédéric Vasseur’s message is to leave the frustration of Monza in the past, concentrate on the unfamiliar challenge ahead and extract as much as possible from both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc from the opening session onwards.
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