Ferrari ‘internal meetings’ could lead Fred Vasseur to make one crucial hiring mistake for 2026

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Ferrari are in desperate need of a reset over the winter after the 2025 Formula 1 season was a disaster in every department.

The Maranello outfit were expected to challenge McLaren for the title, having finished 14 points behind in 2024. However, Ferrari were miles off the pace in 2025, finishing fourth in the standings with no wins.

Charles Leclerc scored seven podiums, while Lewis Hamilton struggled immensely in qualifying and went podiumless for the first time in his F1 career. For what was expected from Ferrari’s extremely talented line-up, it was a torrid season.

Ferrari had opted to prioritise the 2026 F1 regulations quite early in 2025. The SF-25 proved to be a difficult car to handle, and the upgrades Fred Vasseur and the technical department brought did not help.

The team principal was adamant that the team’s rear suspension upgrade at Spa would change their fortunes. Ferrari staff disagreed with Vasseur’s approach, and they were proved right as it did little to improve performance.

Leclerc and Hamilton’s wishes were ignored in 2025, as their proposed aerodynamic upgrades were shelved in favour of the rear suspension. Vasseur’s handling of the situation has put him under pressure for 2026, and he could make another critical error.

Fred Vasseur risks making a huge mistake hiring Renault engines after ‘internal meetings’ at Ferrari

It is abundantly clear that Ferrari need to make changes operationally if they want to be competitive in 2026. Hamilton has been sending private documents to the team, detailing how he thinks they can improve – thus far, it has fallen on deaf ears.

Vasseur is looking to take action, as ‘internal meetings’ were held with the engine department ‘for a recomposition of the technical staff’, as per a report from The Race. It came after the departure of Wolf Zimmermann, who left Ferrari for Audi.

It is said that ‘Vasseur wanted to absorb some engineers’ from Renault after they took part in their final F1 race as an engine supplier in Abu Dhabi. They will leave the sport as Alpine becomes a Mercedes customer team in 2026.

While this would be a swift change for Ferrari, as no gardening leave is required for Renault staff, as they are no longer in F1, this would be the wrong direction to take. The manufacturer are coming off a huge downer, having finished last with Alpine in 2025.

Of course, the closing of the Viry Chatillon factory and limited resources did not help. But a losing mentality, regardless of what experience they bring, is not what Ferrari needs right now – hiring from Renault might highlight how desperate they are to find improvements.

READ MORE: Who is Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur? Everything you need to know

Fred Vasseur is under immense pressure to improve Ferrari in 2026

Ferrari are already planning changes to the 2026 car ahead of the regulation change. They will be optimistic that the new rules can bring them success, but Vasseur is under pressure to deliver that.

His drivers have been despondent in 2025 over the car’s lack of performance and little to no signs of improvement. Hamilton dismissed claims he could quit Ferrari, but the fact that was mooted shows just how much the team have struggled.

Reports have also linked his teammate with a move away in 2027, with McLaren keeping tabs on Leclerc. Vasseur could risk losing both of his drivers if things do not dramatically improve in 2026.

Vasseur has five races to save his job next year, putting incredible pressure on his team to deliver a competitive package. It could be Hamilton’s last chance to fight for a championship before retirement.