Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur reckons “pure efficiency” is kind of irrelevant on the first pre-season check for the 2026 System 1 season because of the regulation change coming in.
The 2026 marketing campaign will introduce adjustments to each the ability unit and chassis, as automobiles will change into lighter and smaller and there’ll be extra emphasis on electrical energy.
With an enormous regulation swap for the upcoming 12 months, there can be three separate pre-season checks: Barcelona (26-30 January), Bahrain (11-13 February) and Bahrain once more (18-20 February).
Barcelona is even a personal check to offer groups the chance to adapt to the brand new guidelines with out the beady eye of the general public, forward of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on 6-8 March.
“We aren’t used to 9 check days,” stated Vasseur. “The final 4 or 5 seasons, we did three. It is a bonus, however it’s additionally a very completely different programme.
“It signifies that the primary goal in this sort of season is to get the reliability. First we have to get mileage. It is also what we need to keep away from in comparison with 2025, is that after we had been misplaced initially of the season with the disqualification, we misplaced mileage, we misplaced reference, after which you might be working after this.
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Picture by: James Sutton / System 1 / System Motorsport Ltd by way of Getty Pictures
“It is a lengthy course of. It signifies that the primary focus in Barcelona can be to get mileage with the automotive, to grasp the reliability of the automotive, the place now we have to enhance and what now we have to react to as a result of in the event you perceive one thing in Bahrain, you will not have time to react for Australia.
“Barcelona can be, for positive, to get mileage, greater than pure efficiency.”
The Ferrari staff principal even thinks that everyone will arrive on the first check “with not a mule automotive, however let’s say a spec A” that ought to look very completely different to the one which hits the Melbourne monitor.
It’s such growth which Vasseur subsequently thinks will outline the upcoming regulation period, as Ferrari bids for its first title for the reason that 2008 constructors’ championship.
“Subsequent 12 months it will not be in regards to the first image of the season, it will not be all in regards to the classification of Australia, will probably be lots about growth and capability of fast growth,” stated Vasseur, whose staff completed fourth within the 2025 standings.
“That season will not be over in Australia for positive, it would not matter if we’re P1 or P10, however will probably be a good distance till the tip, will probably be a good distance for everyone.”
Further reporting by Stuart Codling
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