Ferrari Principal Fred Vasseur Prepared To Take Risks In Competitive 2025 F1 Championship

Fred Vasseur, the Ferrari team principal, is gearing up for a competitive 2025 Formula 1 season. He anticipates a fierce battle for the constructors' championship involving four teams. Ferrari ended the previous season as runners-up, trailing McLaren by just 14 points. McLaren secured their ninth title, while Ferrari remains the all-time leader with 16 championships. This marked a significant improvement from 2023 when they lagged behind Red Bull by 454 points.

With Lewis Hamilton joining Charles Leclerc at Ferrari next season, Vasseur is optimistic about their chances. He expects tough competition from McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull. "Everybody is taking risks," Vasseur mentioned to the F1 website. "If you don't take risks, you're dead." The development of the car is challenging as they are at a crucial stage. The upcoming season will be unique because teams must transition early to the 2026 project, making the car's performance in Bahrain vital.

In 2024, both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz achieved personal bests in points, finishing third and fifth in the drivers' standings respectively. Leclerc's 13 podium finishes marked his best F1 season yet. Sainz equalled his career-best with nine podiums, concluding with a strong performance in Abu Dhabi. "It was a good season for us," Vasseur reflected, noting more ups than downs compared to previous years.

Vasseur highlighted improvements across various performance areas: reliability, strategy, pit stops, and overall performance metrics. Ferrari scored five wins compared to one in 2023 and increased their points tally by 60%. Despite missing out on some opportunities during the summer and in Canada, Vasseur believes they are progressing well.

The team is committed to enhancing every aspect of their performance through continuous development and recruitment efforts. "It's small step by small step," Vasseur explained about their approach to improvement. The process involves ongoing efforts to refine strategies and operations within every department of the company.

Vasseur acknowledged that while Abu Dhabi was not where they fell short, other races like Canada presented challenges. However, he remains confident that Ferrari is on the right track towards achieving their goals in future seasons.