Ferrari's Vasseur Focuses on Present After Underwhelming 2025 Season

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur is determined to keep the team grounded and focused on the present after a disappointing 2025 Formula 1 season that saw the Scuderia finish a distant fourth in the constructors' championship. He has dismissed speculation about the 2026 regulations, emphasizing a complete focus on internal development, the car, and the crucial partnership between Charles Leclerc and the newly arrived Lewis Hamilton.

Why it matters:

After entering 2025 with championship ambitions, Ferrari's failure to deliver has prompted a significant shift in mindset. Vasseur's public stance of avoiding future predictions marks a deliberate break from the past, where long-term promises often overshadowed short-term performance. This pragmatic approach is critical for rebuilding the team's foundations and managing expectations before attempting another title challenge.

The details:

• Vasseur contrasts the team's mindset from 2024, where they had the season finale in Abu Dhabi in mind from the start, to the current uncertainty. He stated, "This year, no one really knows. We can spend time debating... but the truth is we simply don't know."
• His stated priorities are clear: focusing on the team, developing the current car, nurturing the Leclerc-Hamilton collaboration, and maximizing their existing package.
• Vasseur faced internal scrutiny during the summer as results lagged, with Ferrari World Endurance Championship boss Antonello Coletta rumored as a potential replacement. The Scuderia ultimately reaffirmed its commitment by renewing Vasseur's contract.
• The stark contrast between Ferrari's dominant success in the WEC—winning both titles and a third consecutive Le Mans—and its F1 struggles highlights the specific challenges within the Formula 1 operation.

The big picture:

Ferrari's 2025 season represents a significant setback after showing promise in 2024. The team must now navigate a period of consolidation, integrating a seven-time world champion in Hamilton while refining a car concept that has failed to keep pace with rivals like McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes. Vasseur's refusal to engage with 2026 hype is a strategic move to channel all energy into solving immediate problems, a necessary step for a team that has repeatedly struggled to convert potential into consistent performance.