Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur says that Ferrari have a “clear target” for the end of the 2025 season and for next year also.
Vasseur signed a contract extension with the Scuderia following the Belgian Grand Prix, ensuring he will lead the team into next season with the major technical regulations changes and revised power units that will be introduced.
Ferrari currently sit in second place in the constructor’s championship, ahead of Mercedes and Red Bull but with fewer than half the points of leaders McLaren. Despite Ferrari not being in contention for either title this season, Vasseur says that securing his future with the team will be good for their long-term aspirations.
“It’s a good step,” he told the official F1 channel. “We had a couple of discussions. There were some rumours in the press, the last couple of weeks. I think it’s not easy for the stability and mood of the team, but now it is behind us.
“It’s important, it’s a good step that we have to be ready for the last part of the season. That we are fighting for P2 in the championship with Mercedes and Red Bull and we want to win some races before the end.”
Although Ferrari appear to be no closer to their first championship since 2008 than in recent years, Vasseur insists that the team must spend longer rebuilding to become a dominant force in Formula 1 once again, as they were under the leadership of Jean Todt.
“I’m really convinced that it takes time,” he said. “It takes time not just at Ferrari, but everywhere.
“If you look at any good story in F1 – when Christian [Horner] joined Red Bull or Jean joined Ferrari before – all these good success stories took time before the first win. Also because that resource system in the paddock, you need a couple of years to build up a team, to accrue people that you want to have with you. And then it also takes time to work together.
“We want to be very agile in Formula 1, but the reality is that we have a lot of inertia. We are pushing for this. We have a clear target, a clear goal. Everybody in the company is aligned in this project and pushing in the same direction. This is probably the best feeling, when you have a goal and everybody is convinced we can achieve it.”
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
At the summer break, Ferrari have scored five podium finishes courtesy of Charles Leclerc and a pole position in Hungary, but while Lewis Hamilton won the sprint race in China, the team have been unable to secure a grand prix victory so far in 2025, unlike their three closest rivals.
“As usual in a season, you have pros and cons,” said Vasseur. “You can see the glass half-empty, or half-full.
“It’s true that in the championship, we are in front of Red Bull and we’re in front of Mercedes, but we are also a bit far away off McLaren. But I think, overall, we’re improving. Improving on the methodology, on the approach, on the process. Sometimes it’s not visible on track, day-by-day, but I think overall we’re making steps forward. It’s important for us to remain P2 and to win more races until the end.”
Looking ahead to the major regulations changes next season, Vasseur sees 2026 as his team’s best opportunity since he joined as team principal in 2023.
“The 2026 project, it’s a huge challenge that we have to be all fully aligned together to manage it,” he said.
“It’s not a secret that Ferrari want to win again. We have the target and the goal is very, very clear. We will do everything to achieve it. We all want to win the championship. We’ve made a decent step forward everywhere, but now we need perhaps a bit more time to put everything together. The 2026 challenge is a good opportunity.
“We made a step, probably, in Spa. Now, we have to understand a bit more the new suspension and to be able to fine-tune it. But we are now fully focused on 2026. That means we need to get the best from what we have. I still want to win races this season, but the main part of the focus is on ’26.”
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
