Frédéric Vasseur has revealed that a battery problem contributed to Ferrari’s dramatic Q2 scare in Italian Grand Prix qualifying, when Lewis Hamilton escaped elimination at Monza by just one thousandth of a second. The two SF-26 cars recovered strongly in Q3 to finish fourth and fifth, and the Ferrari team principal believes the difficult moment ultimately served as a useful warning before the decisive phase of the session.
Monza was never expected to be the most favourable circuit for Ferrari on paper, but few would have anticipated seeing both cars in such serious danger of dropping out in Q2. Lewis Hamilton edged Gabriel Bortoleto’s Audi by only 0.001 seconds, while Charles Leclerc was only slightly further ahead. After that major scare, however, the picture improved considerably.
Ferrari battery problem turns Q2 into a major warning
In Q3, Charles Leclerc secured fourth place ahead of Lewis Hamilton in fifth, completing a significant recovery after the tension of the previous session. The result also kept alive the possibility of an all-Ferrari second row, with Oscar Piastri under investigation for allegedly impeding Liam Lawson and therefore at risk of dropping behind both SF-26 cars.
Frédéric Vasseur began his post-qualifying analysis by focusing on the Q2 scare. The French team principal explained that Ferrari had deliberately started the first run on used tyres, before the battery issue complicated matters and brought both cars dangerously close to elimination. The sequence formed one of the key moments in Ferrari’s difficult Monza qualifying session.
“We decided to start the first stint with used tyres, but then we had a problem with the battery and we came very close to being knocked out,” Frédéric Vasseur told Sky Sport F1. “But it was a good warning ahead of the next session, given that we survived. It was very tight, though, because when there are ten cars within two tenths, you are really on the limit.”
The battery issue was particularly significant at a circuit where Power Unit efficiency and energy deployment play such an important role. Ferrari had already placed considerable emphasis on the performance of the SF-26’s engine package for its home weekend, with the wider Ferrari Power Unit development programme for Monza focused on extracting greater efficiency from the complete system.
Frédéric Vasseur remains optimistic despite Ferrari missing the front row
Pierre Gasly produced the surprise result of qualifying by putting Alpine on pole position, while George Russell also finished ahead of the two Ferraris. The Mercedes driver benefited from a tow provided by Kimi Antonelli, who is due to start from the back of the grid because of a Power Unit-related penalty.
Despite acknowledging Mercedes’ strong potential, Frédéric Vasseur remained moderately optimistic about Ferrari’s prospects for the race.
“Anything can happen, but we knew it would be extremely difficult to beat George Russell, who had Kimi Antonelli’s tow,” Frédéric Vasseur explained. “We expected the same thing from Max Verstappen as well and we had to keep him behind. We knew that at Monza we would have the fans pushing us, but that it would be difficult because of the layout of the track. In any case, we should start third and fourth, and that is a good option for tomorrow’s race.”
Ferrari’s potential second-row start depended on the outcome of the investigation involving Oscar Piastri. If the McLaren driver were penalised for the incident with Liam Lawson, both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton would move forward by one position.
Why Ferrari did not aggressively chase a tow at Monza
Unlike several rivals, Ferrari did not obsessively pursue a slipstream during qualifying. Frédéric Vasseur explained that the team saw both advantages and disadvantages in joining a train of cars to gain straight-line speed.
“There are two options: either you go into the group and get the positive effect on the straight and then the negative effect in the corners,” Frédéric Vasseur said. “Or, if you have a car with a penalty, you can do what Mercedes did for George Russell or Red Bull for Max Verstappen. If you give him a tow on the straight, it is very powerful and efficient.”
The Ferrari team principal nevertheless made clear that he preferred the prospect of having both SF-26 cars together near the front rather than sacrificing one driver to provide the other with a tow.
“But in the end, I prefer to have both cars on the second row,” Frédéric Vasseur added. “We have to take the positive from today. Even though it would have been fantastic for the fans, we weren’t expecting pole position today. In any case, we’re not far away. In these circumstances it isn’t a bad result, and it’s a good opportunity for tomorrow.”
After coming within fractions of a second of a disastrous Q2 exit, Ferrari therefore ended qualifying with a much more encouraging picture. The SF-26 may not have delivered the home pole the Tifosi wanted, but Frédéric Vasseur believes the gap is manageable and that the starting positions could still give the Scuderia a genuine opportunity in the Italian Grand Prix.
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