Fred Vasseur pinpoints '25-year' problem affecting F1 field

Fred Vasseur believes the F1 field has been affected by the problem of managing tyre temperatures for at least "the last 25 seasons."

Managing tyres has always been a critical factor in F1, but since Pirelli became the sole manufacturer in 2011, it has taken on increased importance owing to its brief to create tyres which degrade. 

In 2025, it is only McLaren that is able to follow another car closely without degrading its tyres beyond a critical state, with Vasseur believing the act of tyre management is ever more important "when the field is tight."

"It is not the key factor of this season, it is the key factor of the last 25 seasons," Vasseur told media, including RacingNews365, of the balancing act of managing tyre temperatures.

"It is even more true when the field is tight, but McLaren from session-to-session, depending on the conditions, can be six or seven-tenths away, and it is all impacted by the conditions. 

"We are all struggling to be competitive in every condition, but it is also [to do with] the tarmac and the layout of the track. 

"We have already seen that it will be difficult to come back to McLaren as they have the advantage.

"On some tracks, or with some conditions, we can fight with them, but overall, they have the advantage, but we are still in the fight with Mercedes and Red Bull.

"We are still in the fight to win some races, and that is important for the team now between 2025 and 2026."