Ferrari's Vasseur: True 2026 F1 Order Won't Be Clear Until Barcelona

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur believes the true 2026 F1 competitive order won't be clear until after the Spanish Grand Prix. With massive new regulations set to reshape the grid, Vasseur insists his team is focused internally on its own project rather than speculating about its rivals. He stresses that the upcoming season will be a long development battle, not decided by the opening races.

Why it matters:

The 2026 season represents a massive reset for Formula 1, with new power unit and aerodynamic regulations promising to shuffle the pack and potentially create a new pecking order. Vasseur's comments are crucial for managing expectations, suggesting that early-season results could be misleading and that the real fight will emerge later. For a team like Ferrari, which has struggled to consistently challenge for titles, this approach emphasizes a methodical, long-game strategy over chasing early-season glory.

The details:

• The Barcelona Benchmark: Vasseur pinpointed the Spanish Grand Prix as the true measuring stick, stating, 'I don't know if McLaren, Red Bull or Alpine is in front of us... We’ll know this in Barcelona. [By] Bahrain, I'm not sure.' The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is a known all-around track that typically reveals a car's genuine performance characteristics.
• A Relative Game: He highlighted the nature of F1 competition, saying, 'I can do a good job, [but] if someone did a better job I look stupid.' This underscores why Ferrari is concentrating on maximizing its own potential rather than trying to benchmark against unknown rivals.
• Development Race: Vasseur emphasized that the 2026 season 'won't be about the first picture of the season.' He believes success will hinge on a team's 'capacity of quick development' throughout the year, making the entire campaign a marathon of upgrades, not a sprint to the first race.

What's next:

Teams will head into the 2026 pre-season tests and early races like Bahrain and Australia with limited knowledge of their true standing. The first few grands prix will likely be a frantic period of data gathering and initial upgrades, with the real battle for supremacy expected to begin in earnest by the European leg of the season. For Ferrari and Vasseur, the primary goal is to ensure their car and development program are robust enough to hit the ground running and stay competitive throughout the long war ahead.