--- title: "\"It's hard to talk about the championship\": Fred Vasseur assesses Hamilton's chances and admits Ferrari's main problem" description: "🏎️ Fred Vasseur: \"It's hard to talk about Hamilton's championship\" — Ferrari admits the main problem. The power unit remains a weak point, but the team is working on improvements. McLaren shows an example of efficiency. The season resumes on August 21 in the Netherlands. #F1 #Ferrari #Hamilton #Vasseur" date: 2026-08-13T13:44:02.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ferrari-vasseur-hamilton-championship-doubts-2026 tags: [f1, ferrari, lewis-hamilton, fred-vasseur, mercedes-f1, mclaren-f1, formula-1-2026] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # "It's hard to talk about the championship": Fred Vasseur assesses Hamilton's chances and admits Ferrari's main problem ![Fred Vasser, CEO of Ferrari, at a press conference with the team's logo in the background, discussing Lewis Hamilton's chances and Ferrari's issues](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/13/ferrari-vasseur-hamilton-championship-doubts-2026/ferrari-vasseur-hamilton-championship-doubts-2026-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Fred Vasseur admitted that Hamilton's championship in 2026 is unlikely due to Mercedes' superiority. - Ferrari's main problem is the power unit, which is currently being actively improved. - The team cannot afford a pause in development, especially in light of McLaren's progress. - The season will resume on August 21 with the Dutch Grand Prix, where Ferrari will present updates. 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. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [No belief in the championship. Ferrari named the task for the F1 season](https://sport.ua/news/897769-v-chempionstvo-ne-veryat-ferrari-nazvala-zadachu-na-sezon-f-1) - Подтверждает заявления Вассера о проблемах с мотором и конкуренции с Mercedes. - [Fresh doubts over Lewis Hamilton's F1 dream even though Ferrari are 'really being smart'](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/2237108/lewis-hamilton-f1-champion-ferrari) - Подтверждает сомнения в чемпионстве, но указывает на скрытые планы Ferrari по ускорению разработки. - [Ferrari urged to prioritise Hamilton as their 'only chance' of winning 2026 F1 title](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ferrari-urged-prioritise-hamilton-only-113100567.html) - Подтверждено по источнику sports.yahoo.com - [How Lewis Hamilton's resurgence changed Oliver Bearman's Ferrari timeline](https://www.gptoday.net/en/news/f1/297666/how-lewis-hamilton-s-resurgence-changed-oliver-bearman-s-ferrari-timeline) - Подтверждено по источнику gptoday.net ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Why does Fred Vasseur doubt Hamilton's championship? **A:** Vasseur points to Mercedes' superiority and Ferrari's power unit problems, which make the fight for the title extremely difficult. ### Q: What updates does Ferrari plan to present? **A:** The team plans a series of engine and aerodynamic improvements, which will be presented at the Dutch and Italian Grands Prix. ### Q: How does McLaren influence Ferrari's strategy? **A:** McLaren's progress forces Ferrari to accelerate development to avoid falling behind in the peloton.