Fred Vasseur reveals F1 pecking order stance amid Ferrari resurgence

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has declined to commit to whether the team now possesses the best package in Formula 1 amid its upturn in competitiveness over recent rounds.

Following a winless 2025, Ferrari has enjoyed a more encouraging season this time around, residing in a clear second place in the Constructors’ Championship – albeit a considerable 126 points behind champions-elect Mercedes – with two race victories.

Ferrari boss reticent to predict F1 pecking order

However, the Italian marque endured a slight slump either side of the summer break, going five events without a podium until Lewis Hamilton came home third in Sepang.

That preceded Ferrari introducing several upgrades in Austin, which Charles Leclerc, having taken second in Singapore, capitalised on to again take the runners-up spot, though it was somewhat bittersweet given the side had topped all three practice hours.

Meanwhile, last weekend, Hamilton scored his maiden pole position with Ferrari in Mexico and believes he would have converted it without the opening-lap squabble with teammate Leclerc that allowed Max Verstappen to nip in and beat him to victory.

Asked whether Ferrari now has the best all-round package, given the team’s late-season resurgence, a prudent Vasseur replied: “Honestly, we are all in the ballpark.

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“If you have a look on all the sessions, one time it’s Charles, one time it’s Lewis, one time it’s Max, one time it’s [Lando] Norris yesterday. That means that we are all there.

“It’s much more linked to the track layout and insensitivity than just the package or the concept.

“But yeah, I think we are there with the others, and it will be another fight in Sao Paulo next week. I think it’s good for F1, this kind of situation when you have six, seven, or eight guys who can win the race on the first season of the regulations.”

McLaren continues upgrade push

But while Ferrari, along with Mercedes and Red Bull, has now pivoted attention to its 2027 challenger, McLaren has updates coming to this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix, as the Woking-based squad strives to bridge the 17-point gap to Red Bull ahead.

“We’ve got some updates coming to the car across the front wing, rear wing and some floor components as part of our normal development cycle,” McLaren Technical Director for Aerodynamics Peter Prodromou revealed.

“The aim is to make up ground, improve our performance over the remaining races and build momentum into next year.”

“São Paulo has been a good circuit for us in the past and is a fairly representative track, so we’re hopeful these upgrades can help us take another step towards the front.

“This season isn’t over yet: these upgrades are designed to improve the car now and help us in our fight for third in the championship.

“While the learning we take from these upgrades will feed into next year’s development, we also expect to carry over the concept of the new front wing into the launch specification of next year’s car.”

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