Frederic Vasseur Says Ferrari Not Afraid of 2026 F1 Development War

Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Frederic Vasseur of Scuderia Ferrari has stated that his team does not need to fear the intense development battle expected to define the 2026 Formula 1 season.

The current campaign marks the beginning of a new technical regulation cycle, which has already reshaped the competitive order. Across the opening three rounds, Mercedes has emerged as the benchmark, while Ferrari has maintained consistency with podium finishes but has yet to match its rival’s outright pace.

Vasseur emphasized that Ferrari’s objectives extend beyond podium appearances, underlining that race victories remain the primary target. He acknowledged a clear performance deficit to Mercedes, particularly in power-limited sections influenced by the new regulatory framework.

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“The target is to be on the podium and to win races,” Vasseur told media including RacingNews365.

“We have a deficit of performance on Mercedes, this is clear, and in the power-limited section, it means that we have to do a better job and improve.”

Despite this gap, Vasseur stressed that Ferrari is not significantly behind and remains within competitive reach through continuous development. Under the current regulations, which allow relatively open car development, the rate of technical evolution is expected to be a decisive factor throughout the season.

A five-week break in the calendar, following the cancellation of Middle Eastern rounds, has provided teams with an extended window to accelerate upgrades. Vasseur warned that the competitive hierarchy could shift notably when the championship resumes at the Miami Grand Prix.

“From Miami, it will probably be another championship,” he explained.

“It means that we have to continue to score strong points, achieve podiums, stay close to Mercedes, and be very efficient in the championship.”

He also highlighted the importance of consistency across what is expected to be a long and development-intensive season. Ferrari’s approach will focus on maximizing points at every opportunity while steadily improving the car’s performance.

“The season will be very long because the rate of development will be high. We don’t have to be scared about this,” Vasseur added.

“We just have to score the maximum points every weekend and continue to do a good job in development for the future.”

As the season resumes in Miami, Ferrari enters a critical phase in evaluating the effectiveness of its upgrade trajectory. Its ability to respond to Mercedes’ early advantage will be a key indicator of whether consistent podium finishes can be converted into race-winning performance in the next stage of the championship.