Ferrari makes Lewis Hamilton-Charles Leclerc claim as F1 deadline looms

Fred Vasseur believes both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc would not change the team's decision to abandon development on its 2025 car to focus on 2026.

Vasseur revealed towards the end of 2025 that the Scuderia had switched off development on its package early in order to focus fully on the sweeping rule changes coming for 2026 once it became apparent how far the SF-25 was behind the McLaren MCL39. 

As a result, the pace of the Ferrari stagnated through the season with team a distant fourth in the constructors' standings without a race win as attention was turned to F1's rules overhaul.

Discussing the drivers' thoughts on the decision, Vasseur explained how he was sure neither Hamilton nor Leclerc would want to change the decision and develop the 2025 machine if they had their time again.

"I would say that when you are taking the decision around the table, and it is: 'Okay, we have this plan, and the gradient of development is this for the new car and this for the old car and if you continue to develop the old car, you will catch McLaren in 10 races, it is a rational decision," Vasseur told media including RacingNews365.

"Then, when you are going to the TV pen, it is an emotional comment, and that is life. I perfectly understand the emotion.

"When [the drivers] are speaking on the radio, they are putting so much energy into the weekend, and Charles is on the radio at the end of the race that: 'I pushed like hell from lap one of Friday to the last lap of the race.'

"I think he has probably pushed more on some weekends than when he won races, and I understand the frustration because when you are pushing like hell to finish P8 or P9, as a driver, you cannot deal with that.

"But if you ask them today if they could redo the choice, I think they would be okay."