Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has outlined the specific areas where he believes the Scuderia must make progress during the second half of the 2026 Formula One campaign, especially as Lewis Hamilton strives to remain in the fight for the championship. Vasseur’s comments came after the Hungarian Grand Prix, the final race before the summer hiatus, and they provide a clear picture of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the Italian outfit.
Hamilton has enjoyed an exceptionally consistent start to the year, collecting points in each of the first eleven rounds. His steady performance has kept his hopes of securing an unprecedented eighth drivers’ title alive, even though he currently trails Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli by 50 points at the top of the standings.
While a 50‑point deficit is significant, it is not insurmountable, particularly given the relatively tight competition that has emerged as the season has progressed. Mercedes, led by Antonelli, has generally displayed a slight performance edge over Hamilton’s Ferrari, suggesting that the Scuderia needs to extract additional performance if the 41‑year‑old Briton is to stay in contention. The battle for the constructors’ championship is similarly close; despite Mercedes’ early‑season dominance, Ferrari remains within striking distance, sitting 72 points behind the German team.
Reflecting on the first half of the year, Vasseur said, "The opening stages of the season were very much a story of Mercedes being on top. Up until the Spanish Grand Prix they were clearly ahead.
After Spain, however, we managed to outscore them over the next four or five races." This assessment underscores the progress Ferrari has already made, but also highlights the need for further development as the calendar moves into its latter stages. During the post‑race press conference in Hungary, Vasseur was asked where the team needed to improve. He responded, "If I have to draw a conclusion from Hungary, I would point to execution. Yet, overall, our execution has been solid from the start of the season." He then turned to the technical side, noting, "We know we have to work on the power unit, and we will.
The inertia on the engine is considerably higher than on the chassis, so that’s a key focus for us." Rival teams, including McLaren, have hinted that Ferrari possesses the strongest chassis on the grid but is being held back by a comparatively weaker power unit. Lando Norris, who finished on the podium at the Hungarian Grand Prix, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the Italian team’s under‑car is a benchmark while the engine lags behind its rivals. Ferrari has already been granted a one‑off upgrade to its power unit under the FIA’s performance‑balancing regulations. The question now is how much further the engine can be refined during the remaining races.
Vasseur acknowledges that there is still room for improvement, but he also stresses that the chassis cannot be neglected. "The most important thing will be to maintain our development pace," he said. "McLaren have done a great job for a period, but they follow a different philosophy – they bring a large package all at once.
We prefer to introduce new parts each race, keeping a steady flow of upgrades." Vasseur’s strategy revolves around a relentless, incremental approach: delivering small but meaningful updates at every Grand Prix. This method aims to preserve momentum and ensure that the team does not lose ground as the championship enters its final dozen events. "We have a lot of room for improvement on the chassis in every area," Vasseur added. "We must keep this rhythm because there are still twelve races left, and every point matters." Looking ahead, the season will resume after the summer break with a sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix from August 21 to 23.
All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, and fans can stream the coverage via NOW without a long‑term contract. The Dutch sprint will provide Ferrari with an early opportunity to test any new components and gauge the effectiveness of their engine upgrades in a competitive environment. In summary, Vasseur’s message to the Ferrari camp is clear: sharpen execution, accelerate engine development, and sustain a rapid cadence of chassis upgrades. By adhering to this plan, the Scuderia hopes to close the gap to Mercedes, keep Hamilton in the drivers’ title hunt, and remain a genuine contender for the constructors’ crown as the 2026 season reaches its climax.