(Motorsport-Total.com) – The new regulatory era hasn’t even properly begun – and yet Frederic Vasseur is already expecting a massive development race. The Ferrari team principal assumes that numerous teams will already be adding large update packages very early in the 2026 season – possibly as early as the season opener in Australia.
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“I am really convinced that everyone will bring huge upgrades,” explains the Frenchman to F1.com. And that is just the beginning: “That’s how it will go at the start of the season because the development rate is very, very high. It makes sense to accelerate new parts and shorten the lead times for new components – but I am focusing on ourselves.”
Ferrari gathers knowledge first
While others are already thinking about the next update, Ferrari is focusing on fundamental work in the early phase. After the first test week in Bahrain, Vasseur drew a sober conclusion. “With a view to the start of the season, the goal was to make the best possible use of the first test sessions, collect many kilometers, and capture as much data as possible.”
Operationally, everything has gone smoothly so far “with good reliability and many laps driven. This is important, both for our preparation and for the analysis of the data at the factory. We will use this data to further improve the car and our understanding of all processes.”
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Performance secondary – for now
Regarding pure pace, Vasseur does not want to commit yet. “Performance is another matter: at this stage, the priority is to build knowledge and put ourselves in the best possible position for Melbourne – knowing that we still have time to take further steps forward.”
The 2026 Formula 1 cars in their final designs on the race track
It should be clear to everyone that there is still room for improvement. The season opener takes place from March 6 to 8 at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, followed by the Chinese Grand Prix directly one week later. One thing is already becoming clear: 2026 will not be a season of waiting. Those who hesitate early, lose.
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