The SF-25 setup and Leclerc’s strategy
Fred Vasseur explained the rationale behind Ferrari’s two-stop strategy for both drivers. For Lewis Hamilton, it was a result of starting on Soft tires and trying to be aggressive without getting stuck in traffic, which worked well. For Charles Leclerc, the strategy was more situational. “Plan A isn’t always the first one. We had several scenarios, but honestly it depended on what Max Verstappen was going to do. We needed to decide whether to push in the first 10 laps or not. It quickly became clear that to make Norris make a mistake, we had to push with the two-stop strategy. In the end, though, he didn’t make a mistake,” Fred Vasseur said with a somewhat bitter laugh, recalling the hope for a final-race podium, while Norris remained fully focused on the championship.
Fred Vasseur also reflected on Ferrari’s aggressive setup choices after a disappointing Friday. Charles Leclerc confirmed this approach helped the team understand more about the complex SF-25. “It happened in some Sprint races and in Qatar, though for different reasons, where our Friday was challenging.” He explained that even minor differences of a few hundredths or tenths can cost multiple positions and create concern. “Thanks to the work in Maranello and on track, we managed to recover well.” Still, starting further back always carried a cost over the weekend. “If you lose time in a session or start behind, you leave a few hundredths in every corner, and P2-P3 can become P5,” referring to Leclerc’s qualifying result. “If we had started better, gaining just one more tenth could have made a difference for Charles and Lewis.”
Assessment of ground-effect cars and Ferrari performance
The French manager did not hide the season’s challenges, which began long before the difficult finale that cost Ferrari second and third in the Constructors’ Championship. “Our pace wasn’t magical even during the Bahrain tests. Then the season started poorly with double disqualification, and after 3-4 races McLaren already had a 100-point lead. For a team aiming to fight for wins, you’re already behind.” He emphasized that overall performance shouldn’t be confused with weekend-by-weekend results. The team showed improvements in races like Austin and Mexico. “In F1, it’s all about details, and we struggled. In yesterday’s qualifying example, between P6 and P16 in Q1 there was less than a tenth of a second. A small mistake or not being in the perfect window, and you’re out.”
This extreme sensitivity explains why weekend results fluctuate so clearly. “Only McLaren and, towards the end, Max had a margin to cover some of these errors,” though even Max Verstappen had difficulties in Budapest or Brazil. “It’s great for the sport but challenging for the teams. There’s always the risk of being out in Q1 or jumping from P18 one week to P5-P6 the next.” Fred Vasseur highlighted how setup choices are always on the edge, benefiting either qualifying or the race. “If you choose the latter, you have to fight like an animal to reach Q3. We’ve been out in Q2 before, and Kimi experienced the same recently while he was fighting for wins, finishing P14-P15 here.”
He added that the convergence of performance values may be due to limited wind tunnel time for the top teams and more development opportunities for those chasing. “This was an F1 target and was managed well. Next year we may see larger gaps, but there will still be differences in development hours.”
No hints or predictions for 2026
Fred Vasseur did not offer any indications about the future, believing it would be pointless given F1’s nature. “I can do a good job, but if someone else does better, I’m the fool.” He emphasized the team should focus on its own project, without worrying about competitors. Early-season tests or the opening race in Melbourne won’t determine the championship. “The snapshot at Melbourne won’t be definitive. Much will depend on car development and team improvements. Whether you’re P1 or P10 in Melbourne, there’s still a long season ahead.” He added that changes in car regulations will eliminate past problems, though new challenges will arise. Tyre interaction has also been critical, especially in Austin and Mexico, where a small speed difference on an outlap could determine a good or bad result.
Vasseur on the drivers: “I’d be worried if they were happy”
Lewis Hamilton has been a hot topic, with critiques of his SF-25 performance and hopes for 2026. Fred Vasseur defended the seven-time world champion and his drivers’ approach. “Recently, we were the ones struggling. Charles was P10 in Qatar, P9 in Las Vegas, we were in those positions. Lewis was 60 thousandths off P8-P9 in Q1.” Issues in FP1 and FP3 cost him time, but the race itself was strong. “Good pace, strong recovery, good overtakes, good management. I have nothing to reproach him for today.”
Fred Vasseur explained he doesn’t give too much weight to post-race interviews or team radios and understands drivers’ emotions. “Lewis is different with us after a half-hour debrief. He’s constructive. So it doesn’t bother me at all.” He suggested allowing drivers to cool off before interviews, as emotions can exaggerate negative results. He emphasized the importance of the drivers’ attitude with the team: pushing to improve themselves and the car in every area. The same applies to Leclerc, who has always been critical but constructively. Charles Leclerc’s ‘now or never’ comments about Ferrari in 2026 drew media attention.
Fred Vasseur remains unbothered, keeping expectations in check and avoiding ultimatums. “If you talk to Charles after P2 or P6, you’ll find two very different Charles. But the next day, he always has the right, constructive approach to improve, regardless of position. That’s my approach too. Even if P1, you can always improve.” He stressed that all drivers push to the maximum, not just those performing poorly. “I’d be very worried if my drivers didn’t, or if they were happy with the car.” He also expects them to bring him feedback on what to improve: “They know they must push the team to the limit in every area: aero, setup, simulator, gearbox… everything. I’m not surprised they come to me to say what to improve, because that’s what we ask. When I see articles about this, I find it a bit naive, because we get this every race. Nothing special.” – the French manager concluded.
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