The 2026 Japanese Grand Prix confirmed Ferrari’s solid race pace, but the team is still searching for the decisive edge to challenge Mercedes and respond to McLaren’s growing competitiveness. In the post-race interviews at Suzuka, Ferrari Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur reflected on the Scuderia’s performance and revisited the comments he made yesterday.
From Miami, a new championship begins for everyone. Ferrari not only focusing on the engine
Frédéric Vasseur first wanted to clarify his statements regarding the “new championship” starting from Miami: “I think we need to be clear about this, because there were some misunderstandings yesterday. When I said there would be a new championship starting in Miami, I meant that everyone will bring updates, everyone will have time to work on the software. It doesn’t mean that we will be the only ones improving, but that everyone will take a step forward.” The Team Principal emphasized the uniqueness of this part of the season: “We have a month of break, which is unusual in Formula 1, and we are at the start of the homologation of this car. All teams are pushing like crazy to improve.” The message is clear: progress will not be isolated but collective. “There will be a step forward for everyone, and we will see what the situation will be.”
Analyzing the race: differences between drivers
Analyzing the Japanese Grand Prix, Frédéric Vasseur explained the differences between the two Ferrari drivers, particularly regarding tire and energy management: “Lewis Hamilton complained a bit more than Charles Leclerc about the tires, and I think it was also the effect of the overtake mode. When you lose more than a second, you also lose the slipstream effect. That’s what happened with Lewis, who at one point was battling Lando Norris.”
The Suzuka race was marked by several groups and constant duels, an aspect that Frédéric Vasseur wanted to highlight positively: “This is what we’re aiming for. We want good racing with lots of battles like today. Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Oscar Piastri… they are all professionals and they are doing a good job.” The most significant factor was the lack of collisions: “I don’t know how many overtakes happened without a single contact, and that is definitely positive for Formula 1 and for us.”
Technical focus: improving in multiple areas
On the technical side, the Ferrari Team Principal reiterated that there isn’t a single area to target to close the gap: “Performance comes from everything. We need to work on aerodynamics, tires, setup, every aspect.” The engine deficit remains evident, but patience is required: “We have a straight-line deficit, but it is almost frozen until the ADUO. If we focus on only one element, we lose overall pace.”
Fred Vasseur pointed out that there is room for improvement in weekend execution: “Last year, we had big fluctuations between Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. All parameters are still on the table: preparation laps, setup, tires. We still have this potential to exploit.” This is complemented by work on pure development: “We are at the start of homologation, and there is a greater development potential compared to last year.” – the French manager added.
Mercedes remains the benchmark
Mercedes continues to be the reference point, with a larger gap in qualifying than in the race: “I don’t know if they have five or six tenths in qualifying, but in the race the gap is smaller. This happens because when you are in a battle, you can use the slipstream and stay with them.” However, to make the next leap in performance, Ferrari needs something extra: “If we want to be ahead, we need to take a small step. That is our next objective.”
Frédéric Vasseur’s assessment of the Japanese Grand Prix highlights a team that is realistic about its current hardware but aggressive in its development strategy. Based on the content of the upcoming “mini-winter break,” Ferrari’s ability to optimize software and aerodynamics before the Miami GP will determine if they can finally unseat Mercedes at the front of the grid.
