Fred Vasseur believes it is ‘not a coincidence’ what he’s seen on McLaren’s car ahead of F1’s 2026 regulations

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Ferrari have now joined many of their rival Formula 1 teams in focusing most, if not all, of their resources on the 2026 regulations following their final major update of 2025.

F1 teams have shifted their focus onto 2026 early this term, with the pinnacle of motorsport introducing its largest overhaul of the rulebook so far next year. The 2026 F1 regulations will yield new aerodynamic, engine, chassis and tyre rules that may change the order of the grid.

In particular, the aerodynamic regulations coming in 2026 should test each F1 team’s design departments, with active aero on its way for the first time ever. So, Ferrari technical director Loic Serra is now focusing all of his efforts on next season in a bid to create a title contender.

Fred Vasseur believes Ferrari and McLaren’s suspension upgrades can influence their 2026 regulations cars

Serra had to divert his focus away from the 2026 F1 season earlier this year to steer Ferrari’s rear suspension upgrade debuted at Spa. The French engineer led the creation of the team’s final major update of 2025 to unlock the SF-25’s potential by running it lower to the ground.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1’s 2026 engine and aero regulations

Team principal Fred Vasseur believes Ferrari’s rear suspension upgrade can also return gains for 2026, despite the lack of carryover between cars given the new regulations. He also feels McLaren and Mercedes are in the same boat following their suspension upgrades this term.

Vasseur told The Race: “We all, and I think it’s true for McLaren, it’s true for us, and it’s true for Mercedes, put a lot of effort on what you can carry over.

“It means that it’s a lot about suspension this season. It’s a lot about the brake system. It’s a lot about all the items that you will carry over for next year.

“For sure, you develop the aero first. But we have been fully focused on ‘26 for months because you know perfectly that what you will learn this season, and [what] you will carry over is zero, zero, zero.

“With suspension, as soon as you understand something, it’s a good step forward for next year. It’s not a coincidence that all the teams, if you have a look, have done this.

“The development of the Mercedes this season is mainly suspension, McLaren also. We are doing the same. It’s not that we wake up one morning and say, ‘OK, let’s copy the others.’”

Mercedes threw away their rear suspension upgrade, and questions linger about Ferrari’s

Vasseur will certainly hope that Ferrari can learn a lot from their rear suspension upgrade in 2025 to develop their car for F1’s 2026 regulations, and reduce their deficit to McLaren. The Maranello squad trail their rivals from Woking by 299 points in F1’s constructors’ standings.

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

It remains to be seen if the Scuderia’s rear suspension update debuted at the Belgian Grand Prix has truly improved the SF-25 after Ferrari compromised Charles Leclerc’s Hungarian GP to protect his skid plank. The Monegasque fell from fighting over a win to finishing in fourth.

Mercedes have thrown their rear suspension upgrade in the bin, too, after their update saw George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli lose confidence with the W16 due to the stability problems it created. Russell overtook Leclerc for P3 in the Hungarian GP without the update.

On the other hand, McLaren surprised Red Bull with an aggressive front suspension change ahead of the 2025 F1 season. The papaya outfit even further developed their design to help Lando Norris improve his feel, yet Oscar Piastri will not use McLaren’s new front suspension.