After the F1 Canadian GP, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed upgrades are coming, but casts doubt on whether this would be enough to challenge at the front.
Ferrari showed great form towards the end of the F1 2024 season, challenging McLaren for the Constructors’ title until the last race in Abu Dhabi.
Expectations ahead of the F1 2025 season were thus high, but Ferrari has, so far, failed to deliver on these expectations.
The SF-25 lags in performance compared to the front-runners, prompting repeated questions about planned upgrades that would address the car’s current limitations.
Upcoming upgrade packages for Austria and beyond
During a print media session following the Canadian GP, Vasseur confirmed that Ferrari would bring upgrade packages in the future, with one set to arrive at the upcoming round in Austria.
“We will have an upgrade soon, before the UK. And, perhaps, another one a bit later,” Vasseur said.
The current season marks the last of this current regulation cycle, making it harder for teams to make huge steps in terms of lap times.
The Ferrari team principal cautions that the effect of the upgrade might not be immediately visible, as the team may need one or two races to find a suitable set-up for the updated SF-25.
Execution is a key factor
Vasseur also points to Ferrari’s execution of the race weekends as a key area to focus on.
“But, honestly, today, I think there is much more in the execution and what you are getting from the car than in the potential of the car itself.
“Now, we are at the end of the homologation of these regulations, and we all know that, when we are bringing something on track, we are more speaking about hundredths than tenths.
“If you don’t do a good usage of the car because the set-up is a bit different, you can lose tenths.”
“A couple of times, on our side at least – and we are not the only ones – when we brought upgrades in the past, we needed one or two races to adapt the car, to adapt the set-up to the new version.
“Honestly, I think that, and I want to put the focus on the team, there is much more [to come from] the execution than the pure potential of the car.
“But we will bring something.”
Despite the struggles with the current package, Ferrari managed a few podium positions throughout the season, which suggests that there is potential.
Asked whether a narrow working window contributed to Ferrari’s struggles, Vasseur denied.
“I don’t think so.”
Upgrades alone won’t be enough
Instead, Vasseur notes that with the field comparatively close this season, upgrade packages won’t have as big of an effect as they had in the past.
The execution thus becomes even more important, as even the smallest issues can translate into a loss of position.
“I think that now the teams are close, and if you have an issue with a part of the car for two or three points of downforce, this is making a huge difference.
“Not in terms of lap time, but in terms of position.
“At the end of the day, we’re paying it.
“We are paying attention only on position.
“In the past, bringing upgrades, you were bringing 10 points three or four times into the season, and even if the delivery of the upgrade was one or two points down, it was not a big drama.
“Today, we are not in this situation anymore.
“When I say execution, it’s also the quality.
“As soon as you have something going wrong, I’m not speaking about the groundhog, but if you have a hit on the aero, you are paying the price directly.”
