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 crew to concentrate on Saturday efficiency to start out additional forward on Sunday. The Crew Principal additionally seems forward to subsequent yr, commenting on the most recent proposed modifications to the 2026 rules.
Give attention to qualifying
“I feel 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 concentrate on that. While 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 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 feel 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 Crew Principal has a distinct 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. While you handle that, the race is completely different and within the first 5-6 laps you achieve 6 or 7 seconds as an alternative of shedding them. For us right now it could have been a very completely different story. The potential is there, however on Saturday we didn’t put every little thing collectively.”
Steadiness is vital
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 fearful. When you 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 unquestionably there.” The Frenchman is obvious about what to investigate: “We have to work on the steadiness. Each Lewis and we’re learning the steadiness of his automobile, which is inflicting the tires to work in a nasty vary. However I consider the potential is there and we’ll attempt to repair the issue.”
“As quickly because the steadiness 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 huge gaps between the automobiles [of the same team, editor’s note].” For just a few races now, Ferrari has proven essential progress when it comes to steadiness, however the efficiency image stays unchanged: “I feel McLaren remains to be a step forward. Even once they make errors, they nonetheless handle to remain within the prime 3. Behind them, although, it’s a relentless mixture of ups and downs.”
Evolving rules
In the meantime, discussions proceed behind the scenes on the 2026 rules. The most recent thought proposes decreasing 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’ve such a serious regulatory change masking the engine, aerodynamics, and sporting points. On the assembly on Thursday we’ll must overview every little thing. Let’s speak about it, I’m open to it, however we have to keep targeted on what’s finest for the way forward for Components 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 results 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 rules, which dictate how the engine energy is delivered. We have to keep open and keep away from arguments – that may be the worst state of affairs for Components 1.”
“We’ve by no means had such a serious 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 onerous to foretell right now what the degrees of aerodynamic load will likely be when growth begins. Let’s speak about it, however I feel the assembly in Bahrain went fairly properly, 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.
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