– Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur explains that his team will continue to develop the Formula 1 car SF-26 despite the dwindling title chances. The situation today is “not the same as twelve months ago,” said Vasseur. Because back then, the regulation change for the 2026 season required a complete redevelopment.
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Before the 2027 season, it is different: “What we develop today, we can transfer 80 percent of it to the project for next year,” said Vasseur. “So we will continue working – but maybe on different things and different areas.”
The current interim standings in the drivers’ and constructors’ championships are not decisive, emphasized Vasseur. Lewis Hamilton is already over 100 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli after his retirement in the Spanish Grand Prix. Ferrari is 145 points behind Mercedes.
What is important for Ferrari now – according to Frederic Vasseur
But does Ferrari still see itself in the title fight at all? Vasseur answered evasively: “Two or three weeks ago I said that I think from race to race. That has not changed.”
The key for Ferrari could lie in qualifying performance. Because neither Hamilton nor Charles Leclerc have qualified for the front row at any of the four race weekends since the summer break.
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Expressed in numbers: Their average starting position was fifth place. The SF-26’s gap to pole position averaged 0.198 seconds. This placed Ferrari behind McLaren and Mercedes, but ahead of Red Bull. (Retrieve these and other statistical details in the Formula 1 database!)
“We definitely have to improve there, because the race pace is there,” said Vasseur. “In Zandvoort and Madrid it was quite similar for us: We were fast in qualifying but did not put everything together on the last attempt.” This cost Hamilton a better starting position in Madrid.
According to Vasseur, this leads to only one conclusion: His team must focus especially on continuously improving qualifying performance. “It’s less about pure qualifying pace. It’s about what progress you can make during the session,” explained Vasseur.
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His analysis for Madrid: “In the first attempt in Q3 we were there. So the potential is there. We just have to coordinate everything better as the session progresses.”
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