At Jeddah, Ferrari celebrates its first podium of the season with Charles Leclerc. Within the palms of the Monegasque driver, the SF-25 exhibits a race tempo in step with the front-runners, if not even higher, however nonetheless pays the value for the difficulties suffered in qualifying. Fred Vasseur units the course, urging the crew to deal with Saturday efficiency to begin additional forward on Sunday. The Workforce Principal additionally appears to be like forward to subsequent 12 months, commenting on the most recent proposed adjustments to the 2026 rules.
Deal with 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 common post-race press convention. “We struggled extra in qualifying and we have to deal with that. If 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 must do a greater job.”
Instantly after the race, Charles Leclerc expressed hope that the upcoming improvements in Maranello might assist Ferrari shut the hole to the entrance, however the Workforce Principal has a distinct view on the work to be accomplished: “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. If you handle that, the race is completely different and within the first 5-6 laps you acquire 6 or 7 seconds as an alternative of shedding them. For us at the moment it will have been a totally completely different story. The potential is there, however on Saturday we didn’t put every thing collectively.”
Stability is essential
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. If you happen to 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 finding out the steadiness of his automobile, which is inflicting the tires to work in a foul vary. However I imagine 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 simply 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 vehicles [of the same team, editor’s note].” For a couple of races now, Ferrari has proven vital progress when it comes to steadiness, however the efficiency image stays unchanged: “I feel McLaren continues to be a step forward. Even after they make errors, they nonetheless handle to remain within the high 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 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 preserve an open thoughts about it, although, as a result of it’s the primary time we’ve got such a serious regulatory change protecting the engine, aerodynamics, and sporting elements. On the assembly on Thursday we’ll must assessment every 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 Components 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 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 might 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 unexpectedly. It’s a problem for the groups and for the FIA. For the Federation, it’s additionally arduous to foretell at the moment what the degrees of aerodynamic load can be when growth begins. Let’s discuss it, however I feel the assembly in Bahrain went fairly nicely, 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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