At Jeddah, Ferrari celebrates its first podium of the season with Charles Leclerc. Within the fingers of the Monegasque driver, the SF-25 reveals a race tempo consistent with the front-runners, if not even higher, however nonetheless pays the worth for the difficulties suffered in qualifying. Fred Vasseur units the course, urging the staff to deal with Saturday efficiency to start out additional forward on Sunday. The Workforce Principal additionally appears forward to subsequent 12 months, commenting on the most recent proposed modifications to the 2026 laws.
Give attention to qualifying
“I believe that within the final 35-40 laps of the race we had been sooner than Piastri and Verstappen,” displays Fred Vasseur within the common post-race press convention. “We struggled extra in qualifying and we have to deal with that. Once you begin fourth you’re in soiled air, and within the first 5-6 laps you already lose a few seconds. We have to take note of being extra constant all through the weekend. I believe we are able to take a look at this weekend positively, as a result of in comparison with the earlier one we made a step ahead in race tempo. The rhythm was excellent and I believe the potential is there, we simply have to do a greater job.”
Instantly after the race, Charles Leclerc expressed hope that the upcoming improvements in Maranello may assist Ferrari shut the hole to the entrance, however the Workforce Principal has a unique view on the work to be performed: “It’s not a matter of upgrades. Once we are sooner than Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri for 40 laps however are 4 tenths behind in qualifying, it means we have to work on ourselves and do a greater job to start out forward. Once you handle that, the race is completely different and within the first 5-6 laps you achieve 6 or 7 seconds as a substitute of dropping them. For us as we speak it might have been a totally completely different story. The potential is there, however on Saturday we didn’t put all the pieces collectively.”
Stability is essential
The French supervisor additionally renews his assist for Lewis Hamilton, coming off one other tough weekend: “I’ll assist him and beginning tomorrow morning we’ll attempt to discover some options. I’m not frightened. For those who take a look at what he did in China, within the Bahrain race final week or within the first a part of the second stint right here, the potential is certainly there.” The Frenchman is obvious about what to research: “We have to work on the stability. Each Lewis and we’re finding out the stability of his automobile, which is inflicting the tires to work in a foul vary. However I imagine the potential is there and we’ll attempt to repair the issue.”
“As quickly because the stability isn’t proper, it’s like a series response. It’s not that you just lose a tenth in a nook since you made a mistake, however you lose one after which one other within the subsequent one. That’s why we have now such huge gaps between the vehicles [of the same team, editor’s note].” For just a few races now, Ferrari has proven essential progress by way of stability, however the efficiency image stays unchanged: “I believe McLaren remains to be a step forward. Even once they make errors, they nonetheless handle to remain within the high 3. Behind them, although, it’s a continuing mixture of ups and downs.”
Evolving laws
In the meantime, discussions proceed behind the scenes on the 2026 laws. The most recent concept proposes lowering the electrical energy output in races from 350 to 200 kW. “The proposal got here in yesterday and I haven’t had time but to speak about it with the engine division,” feedback Fred Vasseur. “We have to preserve an open thoughts about it, although, as a result of it’s the primary time we have now such a serious regulatory change protecting the engine, aerodynamics, and sporting features. On the assembly on Thursday we’ll must overview all the pieces. Let’s discuss it, I’m open to it, however we have to keep centered on what’s greatest for the way forward for Method 1, not on who will achieve a small benefit from 250 or 265 kW.”
“In 5 years we’ve utterly modified the engine regulation, bringing electrical energy to 50%. We underestimated the implications on weight and automobile efficiency, so we needed to modify the aerodynamics, considering for instance about low-drag modes. However then there are the sporting laws, which dictate how the engine energy is delivered. We have to keep open and keep away from arguments – that will be the worst state of affairs for Method 1.”
“We’ve by no means had such a serious revolution within the final 25-30 years, altering the engine, chassis and sporting regulation unexpectedly. It’s a problem for the groups and for the FIA. For the Federation, it’s additionally arduous to foretell as we speak what the degrees of aerodynamic load will likely be when improvement begins. Let’s discuss it, however I believe the assembly in Bahrain went fairly effectively, as a result of we had an open dialogue. The issue is that we’re in a contest and that doesn’t assist the system. I hope we are able to discover a good compromise,” Fred Vasseur concludes after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Let different Scuderia Followers find out about us
