History suggests Fred Vasseur’s 2026 ‘urgency’ comments should worry Ferrari’s drivers

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Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur might be the most under pressure person in the paddock when the 2026 season begins in Melbourne.

The Australian Grand Prix is still more than two months away, but already, Formula 1 fans are getting excited about the return of racing.

Many people are expecting the 2026 F1 season to shake up the pecking order in the paddock, although McLaren will hope that they can continue the success they earned over the past two years.

The upcoming regulation changes are being called the biggest in the sport’s history.

Ferrari failed to win a Grand Prix in 2025, but how many do you predict they will win in 2026 under the new regulations?

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Brand new power units are being built, and an entirely new aerodynamics system will change how drivers race against each other.

Ferrari decided to abandon their 2025 car as early as April to concentrate on next year, a bold decision that Fred Vasseur had to make when he realised Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc weren’t going to be in championship contention.

Vasseur has now suggested that it ‘doesn’t matter’ where Ferrari finish at the opening race in Australia, but history would suggest that the only round of the season after a rule change is more important than he might realise.

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

Fred Vasseur says 2026 Australian Grand Prix result ‘doesn’t matter’

In an interview with Autosport, Vasseur suggested: “Next year it won’t be about the first picture of the season, it won’t be all about the classification of Australia, it will be a lot about the capacity for quick development.

“The season won’t be over in Australia for sure, it doesn’t matter if we are P1 or P10, but it will be a long way until the end, it will be a long way for everybody.”

Asked about how his 2025 choices will pay off, the Frenchman replied: “I have no clue. Our sport is a comparison.

“I can do a good job, but if someone did a better job, I look stupid. We are pushing at the limit, and we are trying to do the best, and for sure, the more time you are spending on the project, the better you will be.

“But I don’t know if McLaren, Red Bull or Alpine is in front of us. Nobody knows, and I think the most important thing is not to spend time to try and understand if the others are in front or behind.”

What do you think of Fred Vasseur’s approach to the 2026 Australian Grand Prix?

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However, the last three times there have been significant rule changes, the opening race has given a clear indication of who will come out on top at the end of the campaign.

In 2022, Max Verstappen qualified second and retired due to a fuel leak, losing out to Charles Leclerc before going on to dominate the season.

Eight years prior, Mercedes dominated the opening race in 2014 with Hamilton and Nico Rosberg finishing first and second in the standings.

Even as far back as 2009 and 2005, Brawn GP and Renault won the first races of the year before winning their respective championships.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

Fred Vasseur addresses Charles Leclerc’s issues ahead of make-or-break Ferrari season

It was clear as the 2025 campaign went on that Leclerc wasn’t happy at Ferrari after being handed yet another uncompetitive car.

Asked whether he has the same urgency as Leclerc to succeed, Vasseur said: “No, not urgency, no. But when you ask him if he’s happy with the session when he’s P2 or when he’s P6, it’s not the same, Charles, for sure.

“But if you ask him the Thursday after: ‘What do you want to do with the team?’, then I think the approach is always the same.

“It’s always constructive to try to do better, even if in P1.

“We are just trying to do a better job on every single pillar of the performance, on the engine, on the gearbox, on the aero, on the set-up, on the simulator, and this is the DNA of what we are doing.

“If Charles and Lewis were very happy with the car and with everything, I would be desperate! This is more positive than anything else.”

Leclerc has been linked with leaving Ferrari, and if that were to happen, it would be a disaster.

Vasseur needs to put far more emphasis on Ferrari’s early performance levels in 2026 to avoid being left behind.