At Jeddah, Ferrari celebrates its first podium of the season with Charles Leclerc. Within the fingers of the Monegasque driver, the SF-25 reveals a race tempo according to 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 staff to deal with Saturday efficiency to begin additional forward on Sunday. The Workforce Principal additionally seems to be forward to subsequent 12 months, commenting on the newest proposed modifications to the 2026 rules.
Deal with qualifying
“I feel that within the final 35-40 laps of the race we had been quicker than Piastri and Verstappen,” displays Fred Vasseur within the regular post-race press convention. “We struggled extra in qualifying and we have to deal with that. Whenever 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 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 distinct view on the work to be finished: “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 begin forward. Whenever 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 this moment it will have been a very completely different story. The potential is there, however on Saturday we didn’t put all the pieces collectively.”
Steadiness 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 anxious. In case you 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 certainly there.” The Frenchman is obvious about what to investigate: “We have to work on the stability. Each Lewis and we’re learning the stability 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 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 got such huge gaps between the automobiles [of the same team, editor’s note].” For a couple of races now, Ferrari has proven necessary progress when it comes to stability, however the efficiency image stays unchanged: “I feel McLaren continues to be a step forward. Even once they make errors, they nonetheless handle to remain within the high 3. Behind them, although, it’s a continuing mixture of ups and downs.”
Evolving rules
In the meantime, discussions proceed behind the scenes on the 2026 rules. The newest concept 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 got such a significant regulatory change overlaying the engine, aerodynamics, and sporting points. On the assembly on Thursday we’ll should evaluation all the pieces. Let’s discuss it, I’m open to it, however we have to keep targeted on what’s finest for the way forward for Formulation 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, pondering 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 situation for Formulation 1.”
“We’ve by no means had such a significant revolution within the final 25-30 years, altering the engine, chassis and sporting regulation . It’s a problem for the groups and for the FIA. For the Federation, it’s additionally laborious to foretell right this moment what the degrees of aerodynamic load can be when improvement begins. Let’s discuss 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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