Fred Vasseur reflects on Ferrari’s challenging 2025 season and looks ahead to 2026
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari team principal, oversaw a particularly challenging 2025 Formula 1 season, marking the Scuderia’s first winless campaign since 2021 and the first under his leadership. He has acknowledged that it was a difficult year for everyone involved, including drivers, staff, and fans.
Frederic Vasseur took over as Ferrari team principal in December 2022 and had guided the team to a strong second place in the 2024 F1 Constructors’ Championship, just 14 points behind McLaren. However, in 2025, Ferrari slipped to fourth in the standings, finishing a substantial 435 points behind McLaren. The Scuderia were the only team among F1’s top four to go an entire season without securing a single Grand Prix victory, while McLaren claimed 14 wins, Red Bull took eight, and Mercedes scored two, finishing first, third, and second respectively in the Constructors’ standings with 833, 451, and 469 points compared to Ferrari’s 398.
Charles Leclerc managed to reach the podium seven times across 24 rounds in 2025, with his best finishes being second place in Monaco and Mexico City. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, in his first season with Ferrari, did not secure a single podium, marking a first in his 19-year Formula 1 career.
Frederic Vasseur has expressed deep gratitude for the unwavering support of Ferrari fans throughout the tough campaign. The French team principal revealed that, despite the difficulties faced by the drivers and the team, the passion of the Tifosi never wavered. He recalled being genuinely stunned when he saw fans waiting in the rain outside the Ferrari factory early in the morning, eager to capture photos and show their support. The French manager described their energy as “immeasurable” and stressed that he could never thank them enough for their loyalty during such a challenging season.
The struggles of 2025 were compounded by Fred Vasseur’s decision to halt development of Ferrari’s 2025 car in April. This strategic choice was made to focus the team’s limited wind tunnel hours on the design of the 2026 car in preparation for the upcoming regulatory changes. While McLaren paused their 2025 development in July, Red Bull continued to upgrade their car, widening the performance gap. Ferrari’s only significant update after April was a rear suspension modification, which ultimately failed to resolve the car’s performance issues, including persistent ride height problems.
Fred Vasseur has admitted that his optimism at the start of 2025 may have raised expectations too high among Ferrari fans. He had indicated that the team was ready to challenge for titles, but reality proved more challenging than anticipated. By prioritizing the 2026 regulations and halting major aerodynamic updates for 2025, Ferrari effectively accepted a transitional year, which now places pressure on the team to deliver results in 2026.
Adding to the stakes, Ferrari is reportedly concerned that Mercedes may have identified a loophole in the 2026 F1 engine regulations, potentially offering a performance gain of up to three-tenths of a second per lap. With this looming challenge and the high expectations of their passionate fanbase, Fred Vasseur has made it clear that the Scuderia must return stronger and more competitive in the new season, building on lessons learned from a difficult 2025.
Leave a Reply