Fred Vasseur makes frank admission over controversial Ferrari 2026 decision

Fred Vasseur has conceded that he "underestimated" the impact Ferrari's decision to abandon its 2025 car early would have on the team. 

Towards the end of a difficult 2025 for the Scuderia, the team boss revealed how major aerodynamic development had been switched off in April to allow the team to fully focus on 2026 and the huge rule changes coming into force.

Ferrari slipped from 14 points behind McLaren in the 2024 standings to 435 in 2025 as it placed fourth and was not able to keep pace with McLaren, Mercedes, or Red Bull all of whom developed later into the season.

Reflecting on the decision to abandon the 2025 car, Vasseur explained how he made a miscalculation over the impact of the decision on the team, whilst defending the actual decision itself.

"Something was missing, probably yes, because at the end of the day, when we decided to move to 2026, it meant that we were not confident to be able to catch McLaren before the end [of 2025]," Vasseur explained to media, including RacingNews365.

"It was the rationale behind the decision, and I think, honestly, it was a good decision. 

"What I underestimated, probably personally, is the fact that when you know you won't develop the car, it is more difficult to keep everybody, motivated is not the right word, but with expectation, and this is important.

"As a team, we have to stay in our bubble and deal with this kind of situation."