Ferrari F1 resurgence under Fred Vasseur earns major praise after difficult 2025 season
Former Formula 1 driver Jean Alesi has delivered strong praise for Fred Vasseur, highlighting the progress made at Ferrari after what he described as a disastrous 2025 campaign for the Scuderia.
Fred Vasseur’s strongest season so far as Ferrari team principal came in 2024, when he guided the team to second place in the constructors’ championship, finishing behind McLaren after a competitive but ultimately inconsistent campaign.
However, the 2025 Formula 1 season proved to be a major setback for Ferrari, as the SF-25 struggled with performance limitations and consistency issues, while new signing Lewis Hamilton faced difficulties adapting to the team environment and car characteristics alongside Charles Leclerc.
As a result, Ferrari slipped to fourth place in the constructors’ standings, finishing behind Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren, marking a disappointing step backwards for one of Formula 1’s most historic teams.
In contrast, the opening phase of the 2026 Formula 1 season has shown clear signs of recovery, with Ferrari appearing significantly more competitive. Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have already secured podium finishes, indicating that the Scuderia may be returning to a more stable and performance-driven trajectory.
Jean Alesi praises Fred Vasseur’s leadership and Ferrari SF-26 progress
Speaking in a recent interview with RacingNews365, former Ferrari driver Jean Alesi expressed his admiration for Fred Vasseur’s leadership, particularly in how the French team principal managed to stabilise the organisation after a difficult previous season.
Jean Alesi, who raced in Formula 1 for teams including Ferrari, Benetton, and Sauber, stated that he has been impressed by the development of the SF-26, describing it as a “real Ferrari car” that reflects a more coherent technical direction compared to the previous year.
He reportedly reflected on the 2025 season by acknowledging that Ferrari’s performance was extremely poor, reinforcing earlier comments in which he characterised the campaign as a “catastrophe”, while stressing that his assessment was based purely on observed results and on-track performance.
The Frenchman also noted that the early signs in 2026 appear much more positive, stating that Ferrari’s current package looks significantly more competitive and that the team has started the season with a much stronger foundation.
According to Jean Alesi, Fred Vasseur has been doing an excellent job since his arrival, despite the extreme complexity of managing a Formula 1 team, particularly one with the historical pressure and expectations associated with Ferrari.
He added that leading Ferrari is a uniquely demanding challenge, where internal pressure, media scrutiny, and fan expectations amplify every decision, making team cohesion a critical factor in overall performance.
Jean Alesi further explained that maintaining unity within a Formula 1 team is essential, and suggested that Fred Vasseur faced significant difficulties in keeping the organisation aligned during the turbulent 2025 season, when internal and external criticism increased substantially.
He also indicated that such pressure had an impact on team balance, but stressed that the situation now appears more stable, with Ferrari showing early signs of improved direction under the combined efforts of Fred Vasseur, Lewis Hamilton, and Charles Leclerc.
Ferrari targets Mercedes with upgrades and development push in F1 2026
Despite the positive start to the 2026 Formula 1 season, Ferrari still finds itself behind Mercedes in terms of overall performance, with the German manufacturer dominating the opening races of the campaign.
However, reports from the Italian media suggest that the Maranello team is actively working to accelerate its development timeline in order to close the gap to Mercedes more quickly than originally planned.
It has been indicated that Ferrari initially targeted mid-season upgrades around July, particularly in relation to power unit developments, but is now working to bring forward key updates to as early as the Barcelona race weekend.
In addition, Ferrari is reportedly preparing an aerodynamic and software upgrade package designed to be introduced at the Miami Grand Prix, with the aim of improving both efficiency and overall race performance.
These developments are expected to play a crucial role in determining whether Ferrari can re-enter the fight at the front of the grid, especially if Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are given a more competitive platform to challenge Mercedes on equal terms.
If Ferrari succeeds in closing the performance gap through these upgrades, both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are considered fully capable of competing for race victories, potentially reshaping the balance of power in the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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