Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has praised the team’s development work following Lewis Hamilton’s pole position and Charles Leclerc’s third place in qualifying for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix. The French manager was particularly impressed by the seven-time world champion’s recovery from a difficult Q2, although he urged the Scuderia to remain calm and concentrate on converting its promising starting positions into a strong result on Sunday.
The qualifying performance provided further encouragement for Ferrari after its recent improvement in competitiveness. However, Fred Vasseur also highlighted the unusual challenges of the Mexican circuit, the importance of a clean race and the need to maintain development momentum ahead of next season. The team principal also responded with a pointed joke when questioned about a possible change to the turbo-related starting procedure.
Fred Vasseur praises Lewis Hamilton’s Mexico GP pole and Charles Leclerc’s P3
Ferrari’s qualifying performance was particularly satisfying because of the team’s ability to overcome difficulties during the session. Lewis Hamilton had to use a second set of tyres in Q2, but recovered strongly and delivered the necessary pace when pole position was at stake.
Fred Vasseur praised the British driver’s performance while also acknowledging that Charles Leclerc had been in contention for pole before making a small mistake on his final attempt.
“Yes, it was a very good lap from Lewis. We struggled a little in Q2 and he had to fit a second set, but he had a fantastic Q3, with two good laps. I’m really pleased with the job he did. Charles was also on pole after the first attempt, then made a small mistake on his final lap. He could have done better, but also worse, so let’s focus on tomorrow, because that’s when the points are awarded.”
The comments reflect Ferrari’s satisfaction with securing first and third places while recognising that qualifying is only one part of the weekend. Lewis Hamilton’s pole was especially valuable following the difficulties encountered earlier in the session, while Charles Leclerc’s performance reinforced the SF-26’s competitiveness.
The narrow differences between the two Ferrari drivers and their rivals can also be examined through the F1 qualifying pace and sector comparison, which allows the individual qualifying performances and sector times to be assessed in greater detail.
Why Ferrari’s P1 and P3 starting positions could matter at Mexico’s Turn 1
Although Ferrari can approach Sunday’s race with confidence, Fred Vasseur is well aware that the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez presents an unusual challenge at the start. The long run from the grid to the first corner creates significant slipstreaming opportunities, potentially allowing drivers starting further back to challenge those ahead.
This means that pole position does not necessarily guarantee an advantage once the cars reach the first braking zone. Nevertheless, the Ferrari team principal made it clear that he would still prefer his drivers to begin as close to the front as possible.
“It’s true that it’s the longest run to Turn 1 of the season, and the slipstream certainly plays an important role. I still prefer to start from first place, though, but between first and third, on the clean side of the track, yes, perhaps it’s better this way.”
Ferrari’s first and third qualifying positions therefore provide an interesting starting configuration, with both cars on the clean side of the grid. However, the opening phase of the Grand Prix will remain particularly important given the opportunities created by the long approach to Turn 1.
Fred Vasseur urges Ferrari to remain calm despite recent progress
Ferrari’s recent results have helped restore confidence within the team, but Fred Vasseur does not want the improved performances to create excessive pressure or premature expectations. The French manager believes that the Scuderia must maintain the same disciplined approach regardless of whether the results are disappointing or encouraging.
“We have to stay calm in every situation. When the results aren’t exceptional, we have to remain calm, but even when we’re on pole, we have to stay calm. We have to focus on ourselves, think about the best strategy for tomorrow and have a clean race.”
The team principal also acknowledged the importance of ending the championship with competitive performances, particularly because strong results can have a positive effect on the team’s morale and preparations for the following season.
However, he insisted that the immediate priority must remain the Mexican Grand Prix, where Ferrari has a genuine opportunity to fight for victory.
“It’s certainly positive to finish the season on this kind of form, with good results. It’s also important for the team and its spirit over the coming months, looking ahead to next year. But right now, let’s focus on Mexico, because winning a race is important for us.”
Ferrari’s SF-26 upgrades earn praise as Fred Vasseur explains Mercedes recovery
Another important subject was Ferrari’s development programme, with the Scuderia having demonstrated clear progress following successive upgrade packages. The recent improvements suggest that the engineers at Maranello have made effective use of the developments introduced throughout the season.
The benefits of the latest Ferrari SF-26 upgrades introduced at Austin have been particularly encouraging, with the car remaining competitive despite the different technical demands of the Mexican circuit.
Fred Vasseur acknowledged the work carried out by Ferrari but also pointed to the progress made by its rivals, particularly Mercedes. The French manager explained that new developments do not always produce an immediate improvement because teams sometimes need additional races to identify the correct setup.
“If you look at Mercedes, they’ve come back as well. We’ve reached a point where, when you bring upgrades, sometimes you need one or two races to find the right setup. I think that’s what happened. Mercedes struggled in Malaysia, Singapore and Austin, but they’ve become competitive again in these last two races.”
The Ferrari team principal also explained that the development cycle tends to be faster during the earlier stages of a car’s evolution, while highlighting the effort made by the Scuderia to continue improving throughout the campaign.
“Certainly, at the beginning of a car’s development, the pace of upgrades is slightly faster. We’ve done a good job back at the factory, continuing to push throughout the season and bringing upgrades.”
His assessment underlines the importance of Ferrari’s sustained development work, while also recognising that Mercedes has recovered competitiveness after struggling to extract performance from its own changes.
Fred Vasseur jokes about possible turbo starting procedure change
The discussion also turned to a technical issue surrounding the turbocharger procedure before the start of a Grand Prix. The amount of time available to manage the turbo before the lights go out has become a subject of discussion, with paddock rumours suggesting that Mercedes has requested a change to the existing rule.
Asked about the possibility of modifying the regulation, Fred Vasseur responded with a joke, suggesting that Ferrari might prefer the opposite approach to its competitors.
“Yes, we could reduce it, because all our rivals want to extend it, and we could try to shorten it.”
The remark offered a lighter conclusion to an otherwise serious discussion about Ferrari’s performance, development programme and preparations for the Mexican Grand Prix. Turbocharger behaviour has already been an important technical consideration during the weekend, with the characteristics of Ferrari’s power unit in Mexico’s high-altitude conditions attracting attention.
Ferrari targets Mexico GP victory after encouraging qualifying performance
Ferrari enters the race with Lewis Hamilton on pole position and Charles Leclerc third, a result that reflects the progress achieved through its recent development programme. However, Fred Vasseur is determined to ensure that the team approaches Sunday with the same discipline regardless of the encouraging qualifying result.
The long run to Turn 1, the importance of slipstreaming and the need to execute the correct race strategy all present challenges. The Scuderia will also have to contend with rivals that have demonstrated renewed competitiveness, particularly Mercedes.
For the Ferrari team principal, the objective is clear: maintain the momentum created by recent improvements, deliver a clean race and take advantage of the opportunity to fight for victory in Mexico. The significance of ending the season strongly is not lost on the French manager, but his immediate attention remains firmly on Sunday’s Grand Prix.
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