Vasseur: Ferrari's fate in 2025 rests on 'crucial' early updates

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Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has underlined the "crucial" importance of the Scuderia's early performance and upgrades in determining the team's trajectory for the 2025 Formula 1 season.

With a stable ruleset promising a tighter field and the looming overhaul of 2026 regulations demanding early attention, teams face a delicate balancing act between short-term gains and long-term planning.

Vasseur is clear: Ferrari must strike early if they want to mount a serious championship challenge.

Early Upgrades to Shape Ferrari's Season

"For sure if we have to develop the current car, it would be the first couple of races," he stated earlier this week at the sport's F1 75 Live event.

"And then I think everybody will – I don't want to say that we will stop the current car, but we'll be more focused on '26.

"It means that the first races and the first upgrade that we will bring for the car will be crucial for the season, and for sure we'll bring something in the early stage into the season."

Given Ferrari's strong finish to 2024 and its expectations of being in title contention once again this year, the team's development strategy will be more critical than ever.

Their 2025 challenger, the SF-25, has already undergone significant changes, including a shift from push-rod to pull-rod front suspension, a move designed to unlock greater performance potential.

A Tight Window for Development

Ferrari, like all teams, faces a tough call on when to pivot their full focus toward F1's radically different 2026 regulations. Vasseur stressed that the timeline for making major upgrades is narrow.

"If we have to react [to something], we can't react after June, for example," he explained.

"We know that the lead time is quite important for big parts, and probably in the summertime we'll all be fully focused on 2026."

The challenge of managing short-term performance with long-term planning is not new, but history has shown the risks involved.

Vasseur referenced the 2021 title fight between Mercedes and Red Bull, where both teams continued bringing upgrades deep into the season despite looming regulation changes.

Where Ferrari Stands in the 2025 Fight

Ultimately, Ferrari's development path will depend on their competitiveness in the opening races.

"Even if you decide now that 'we do it like this, like this, like this,' let's see after a couple of races in the championship where you are," Vasseur remarked.

"If you are one second behind, it makes no sense to continue to develop. If you are one second in front, you can be focused a little bit on '26. But I think these two scenarios are not realistic at all.

"I think it will be the continuity of last year, with four teams able to win races and four teams able to win the championship."

As Ferrari gears up for another intense season, the pressure is on to deliver upgrades that can put them at the front of the grid before attention inevitably shifts toward 2026.

With the margins between success and failure razor-thin, the Scuderia's early-season performance could define their campaign.

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