Frédéric Vasseur has addressed the challenges Ferrari may encounter on its path toward 2026. The Scuderia’s Team Principal explained that he does not want the team to waste energy thinking about where their rivals might be, as Formula 1 approaches a new regulatory cycle.
The 2026 season is approaching, and Vasseur prefers to remain calm even though the upcoming rule changes represent Ferrari’s best opportunity to return to the front. The Team Principal laid out the difficulties Maranello will face along the way, issuing a clear warning to everyone inside the organisation.
It is well known that Ferrari will be expected to fight for the title in 2026. Charles Leclerc has already issued a clear ultimatum, his “now or never” message echoing strongly. Work on the Ferrari 2026 project continues with innovative solutions and extreme attention to detail, guided by technical director Loic Serra. With the regulatory revolution will also come a new steering wheel, with a lighter prototype debuting in Abu Dhabi. After the SF-25, the team is ready to turn the page, approaching the next car with a completely different mindset. Making further mistakes is not an option. Fred Vasseur knows this is his last chance to prove he can truly lead Ferrari back to glory. Speaking during the FIA press conference in Yas Marina, he addressed a crucial topic.
Vasseur: “The problems we had with these cars won’t be there, but there will definitely be others”
“I can do a good job, but if someone does better, I’m the stupid one. The team must not waste energy thinking about where the others will be. Nobody can know that. The picture we will have in Melbourne will not necessarily be the final one. A lot will be decided by the development of these cars and by the teams’ ability to improve. It doesn’t matter if you are P1 or P10 in Melbourne; there will still be a long way to go before the end of the season. We’re focused on our project. We’re developing it, pushing to the limit, and doing our best. Certainly, the more time we dedicate to the project, the better the results will be. But I don’t know whether McLaren, Red Bull, or Alpine are ahead of us — no one knows that.” – the Ferrari team boss pointed out.
Development of the 678’s upgrade package has been entrusted to Frank Sanchez, who intends to bring technical updates at every race. Ground-effect cars have caused significant headaches for engineers, with the SF-25 wearing down the floor’s skid block excessively this season. The Frenchman from Draveil explained that certain problems will disappear, but new ones will undoubtedly emerge.
“What we have done this year and in previous years will not be of much help, because the cars will change radically in every technical aspect. The problems we had with these cars won’t be there, but there will definitely be others. We saw at circuits like Austin and Mexico that the outlap was decisive and that differences of 5 km/h could put you inside or outside the operating window, with variations of one or two tenths, which is the difference between a good or bad result.” – the former Alfa Romeo team boss concluded.
The new regulations will split power equally between electric and internal combustion components, making battery management crucial. Active aerodynamics will also be introduced, with both the rear flap and the front flap being movable. Ferrari has already begun testing at Abu Dhabi to simulate how this system will work.
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