At Jeddah, Ferrari celebrates its first podium of the season with Charles Leclerc. Within the palms 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 group to give attention to Saturday efficiency to start out additional forward on Sunday. The Workforce Principal additionally appears forward to subsequent 12 months, commenting on the newest proposed modifications to the 2026 laws.
Give attention to qualifying
“I feel that within the final 35-40 laps of the race we have been quicker than Piastri and Verstappen,” displays Fred Vasseur within the traditional post-race press convention. “We struggled extra in qualifying and we have to give attention to 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 feel we will have 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 feel the potential is there, we simply must 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 special view on the work to be carried out: “It’s not a matter of upgrades. After we are quicker 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 acquire 6 or 7 seconds as a substitute of shedding them. For us immediately it might have been a totally completely different story. The potential is there, however on Saturday we didn’t put every little thing collectively.”
Stability is vital
The French supervisor additionally renews his help for Lewis Hamilton, coming off one other troublesome weekend: “I’ll help him and beginning tomorrow morning we’ll attempt to discover some options. I’m not fearful. For those who have 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 unquestionably there.” The Frenchman is obvious about what to research: “We have to work on the stability. Each Lewis and we’re learning the stability of his automotive, which is inflicting the tires to work in a foul vary. However I consider the potential is there and we’ll attempt to repair the issue.”
“As quickly because the stability isn’t proper, it’s like a sequence 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’ve such massive gaps between the automobiles [of the same team, editor’s note].” For a couple of races now, Ferrari has proven essential progress when it comes to stability, however the efficiency image stays unchanged: “I feel McLaren remains to be a step forward. Even after they make errors, they nonetheless handle to remain within the prime 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 newest thought 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 hold an open thoughts about it, although, as a result of it’s the primary time we’ve such a significant regulatory change protecting the engine, aerodynamics, and sporting elements. On the assembly on Thursday we’ll must evaluation every little thing. Let’s discuss it, I’m open to it, however we have to keep targeted on what’s finest for the way forward for System 1, not on who will acquire a small benefit from 250 or 265 kW.”
“In 5 years we’ve fully modified the engine regulation, bringing electrical energy to 50%. We underestimated the results on weight and automotive efficiency, so we needed to modify the aerodynamics, pondering 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 may be the worst situation for System 1.”
“We’ve by no means had such a significant revolution within the final 25-30 years, altering the engine, chassis and sporting regulation abruptly. It’s a problem for the groups and for the FIA. For the Federation, it’s additionally arduous to foretell immediately what the degrees of aerodynamic load will likely be when improvement begins. Let’s discuss it, however I feel 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 will discover a good compromise,” Fred Vasseur concludes after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
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