On August 13, 2026, against the backdrop of the approaching resumption of the Formula 1 season, the head of the "Scuderia," Fred Vasseur, gave a candid interview in which he analyzed the team's current position and the prospects of his star driver, Lewis Hamilton. The press meeting took place at Ferrari's headquarters in Maranello, where the Italian team traditionally holds summer strategic meetings before the second stage of the championship.
A realistic view of the title fight
Vasseur admitted that, despite the ambitious goals declared at the beginning of the year, the chances of winning the championship title in the current season have significantly decreased. According to the French executive, Ferrari's main rival remains the German team Mercedes, which demonstrates stability and technical superiority. "It is difficult to talk about the championship when there is such a Mercedes," Vasseur stated, emphasizing that the lag in speed and power unit reliability remains a critical factor.
Engine problems and working on mistakes
The head of Ferrari openly admitted that the team's main problem is the power unit. "We clearly know that our main problem is the engine, and we are currently actively working on improving it," Vasseur noted. According to him, the team has already significantly reduced the gap it had at the start of the season, but it is still far from the level of Mercedes. Ferrari engineers are focused on optimizing engine efficiency and reducing fuel consumption, which is particularly important given the tightening of the 2026 regulations.
Competition and the McLaren example
Vasseur also drew attention to the rapid progress of rivals, in particular the McLaren team, which is demonstrating remarkable efficiency in its updates. "We have no right to pause, as there are still 12 crucial races ahead, and stopping development would mean a step backward," he warned. In his opinion, McLaren has become an example of how to correctly use the summer break to modernize technology and improve aerodynamics.
Plans for the second half of the season
The summer break in the championship is coming to an end: the Formula 1 race weekend will resume on August 21–23, when drivers will take to the track for the Dutch Grand Prix. Vasseur emphasized that Ferrari plans to present a series of updates that should help the team regain competitiveness. "We cannot afford to lose momentum, especially in conditions where every point counts," he added.
Contradictory data
There are discrepancies in the assessment of Ferrari's prospects. On the one hand, Vasseur admits that the championship is unlikely, but on the other hand, sources close to the team report plans to accelerate the development of a new engine, which could be presented as early as the Italian Grand Prix. At the same time, experts interviewed by Sky Sports believe that even with an improved engine, Ferrari will not be able to catch up with Mercedes in the current season. Thus, questions remain about how realistic Vasseur's statements about "reducing the gap" are and what specific steps are being taken to achieve this goal.
