Frédéric Vasseur has laid down a clear set of rules within Ferrari’s Sporting Department in Maranello, rules that everyone will be required to follow with absolute discipline as the team looks ahead to 2026. Ferrari are changing their approach toward one of the most important seasons in their recent Formula 1 history, and the direction has been defined directly by the Scuderia’s team principal.
The head of the Maranello-based team has chosen a very specific path toward the new season. For 2026, Ferrari are set to operate differently, following the strict principles imposed by Frédéric Vasseur. This represents a deliberate shift in philosophy, aimed at avoiding the mistakes of the recent past and creating a more controlled and focused working environment.
At the beginning of the 2025 season, expectations around the Ferrari project were extremely high. The Scuderia themselves helped fuel that excitement by organizing a major event in Milan’s Piazza Castello, openly rallying fans and media around the idea of fighting for both world championships. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were also convinced that they had a title-winning car at their disposal, but the reality proved very different once the season got underway.
Frédéric Vasseur’s public communication throughout that period sparked considerable debate, at times appearing to downplay the situation or even lightly mock those listening to his interviews. That tone did not go unnoticed among fans and observers. Now, however, there is a clear and decisive change in approach, with new internal rules introduced by the team principal to guide Ferrari toward 2026.
The 2026 car will be developed without bold claims, in complete “silence”
As has already been reiterated, the departures of Zimmermann and Schmidt to Audi should not compromise the power unit development work led by Enrico Gualtieri. Even so, it remains impossible at this stage to draw up any kind of hypothetical competitive ranking for the future. Fred Vasseur, as he has stated on several occasions, has been keen to recruit staff leaving Alpine, a team that will switch to Mercedes power units from next year.
The French manager has shown no intention of wasting time. Following the exit of a key technical figure, Fred Vasseur called several internal meetings with the engine department to reorganize and stabilize the technical structure. The objective was clear: to ensure continuity, clarity of roles, and a stronger internal alignment ahead of the major regulation changes.
According to reports from The Race, the 2026 Ferrari will be developed in a much more restrained and discreet environment. The chassis and the main design concepts are already defined, along with the cooling layout and the gearbox architecture. The new car will share very little, if anything, with the 2025 machine.
Simulator drivers have already been working on adapting to a different driving approach. This change will not only affect how the electrical deployment is managed but will also introduce a hybrid driving style. The concept is expected to blend characteristics of the 2021 car, which ran without ground effect, with elements of the 2022 ground-effect-era machines.
With just over a month remaining before the new car makes its first appearance on track, Ferrari’s decision to operate quietly marks a clear break from the past. Under Frédéric Vasseur’s leadership, the focus for 2026 is discipline, discretion, and execution rather than public declarations, as the Scuderia aim to return to the front of Formula 1.
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