Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur has outlined the specific areas where he believes the Scuderia must sharpen its performance during the latter half of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign, especially as seven‑time champion Lewis Hamilton strives to stay in the hunt for another title. Hamilton has enjoyed a remarkably steady start to the season, logging points in each of the first eleven races. His consistency has kept the dream of an unprecedented eighth drivers' championship alive, even though he currently trails Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli by 50 points at the top of the drivers' standings. While a 50‑point deficit is significant, it is not beyond reach, particularly if the Italian outfit can extract additional speed and reliability from its machinery.
At present, Antonelli’s Mercedes appears to possess a modest power advantage over Hamilton’s Ferrari, a gap that could prove decisive if the British driver wishes to maintain his challenge. The performance differential also impacts Ferrari’s aspirations in the constructors' championship, where Mercedes enjoys a 72‑point cushion despite the early‑season dominance exhibited by the German team. Speaking after the final race before the summer hiatus – the Hungarian Grand Prix – Vasseur reflected on the first half of the year.
"The first half of the season unfolded in stages. Up until Spain, Mercedes were simply flying," he said. "After Spain, when we returned, we actually out‑scored Mercedes over the last four or five races." He went on to analyse the shortcomings revealed in Budapest, noting that execution was the primary issue. "If I draw a conclusion from Hungary, I would say execution," Vasseur explained.
"But overall, our execution has been fairly solid from the start of the season." The Frenchman then turned his attention to the technical side of the car. "We know we have to improve on the engine side and we will do it. The inertia on the engine is much higher than on the chassis," he observed, highlighting that power‑unit development tends to be slower and more complex than chassis work.
Rival teams, notably McLaren, have suggested that Ferrari already possesses the strongest chassis on the grid, but that the team’s progress is hampered by a comparatively weaker power unit. This assessment aligns with Vasseur’s comments – the Scuderia’s chassis appears competitive, yet the engine’s output still lags behind the front‑running Mercedes. Ferrari has already introduced an engine upgrade after receiving permission from the FIA under its performance‑balancing regulations, but the extent of further gains that can be extracted from the power unit remains uncertain. Despite acknowledging the need for more power, Vasseur emphasized that the team must not neglect chassis development.
"The most important thing will be to keep the pace in development," he asserted. He contrasted Ferrari’s philosophy with that of McLaren, noting that while the British team tends to deliver large, transformative packages, Ferrari prefers a more incremental approach. "McLaren did a good job for a while, but they don’t have exactly the same philosophy as us because they are bringing a big package.
For sure each time they bring something, they are making a huge step. We have a different approach, trying to bring parts every race." Vasseur’s strategy revolves around maintaining momentum across the remaining twelve races of the season.
"We have to keep this momentum because there are still 12 races to go. It’s a lot. We have room for improvement on the chassis everywhere, and we have to keep this pace," he concluded. Looking ahead, the Formula 1 calendar resumes after the summer break with a sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix, scheduled for 21‑23 August.
All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, and fans can stream the coverage via NOW without a long‑term contract, with the option to cancel at any time. The Dutch round will provide Ferrari with a crucial opportunity to test new upgrades, refine their execution, and close the gap to Mercedes both on the power‑unit front and in overall race performance, keeping their championship hopes alive as the season enters its decisive phase.