FERRARI ALERT: FRED VASSEUR ABANDONS TWENTY-TWENTY-FIVE TO FIX ENGINE FOR TWENTY-TWENTY-SIX RULES
Fred Vasseur admits Ferrari’s 2025 was a failure. With Lewis Hamilton scoreless on podiums, all eyes are on the 2026 engine reset.
Team boss Fred Vasseur says Ferrari's 2025 season wasn't good after neither Charles Leclerc nor Lewis Hamilton won a single race.
Vasseur thought 2025 might be the year Ferrari finally brought the F1 title back home, after what feels like forever. They haven't won the driver's title since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, and their last constructor's title was in 2008.
Vasseur felt good because Ferrari ended the 2024 season just 14 points away from winning their 17th constructors' title. But he soon knew how far behind McLaren they were, and he gave up in April to concentrate on the 2026 rules.
Vasseur stopped developing the 2025 car in April to put wind tunnel time into the new rules instead of aero upgrades. But this choice led to Hamilton's worst season in his 19-year career, during his first year with Ferrari.
Fred Vasseur keeps telling Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton that 'everything' is new for 2026. Hamilton didn't even get a single podium, which hasn't happened before in his career. The 40-year-old also scored his fewest points since F1 started the current scoring system in 2010, ending up with only 156 points and sixth place.
Leclerc only got 242 points, finishing fifth, marking his fourth season without a win in seven years with Ferrari. But though Vasseur admits 2025 wasn't good, he keeps saying that everything will be different in 2026.
"The message at the end of the year, and I think we agree on this, is that we all know the season wasn't good," Vasseur told Sky Italy.
We've had time to talk about why. But the thing is, 2026 is going to be totally different. New chassis, engine, battery, fuel, and tyres—everything's new.
Ferrari had a rough time in 2025 after changing their suspension for the SF-25, which caused ride height problems all year. So, they're going back to push-rod suspension on both ends for 2026, admitting that switching to pull-rods was a mistake.
But the biggest change in the 2026 rules is expected to be the engine rules, which will increase the electrical part of the power from 20% to 50%. F1 is also getting rid of the MGU-H and switching to 100% sustainable fuels.
Many people think Mercedes will have the best engine for 2026, which could see them back at the front. But, there are worries about Ferrari's engine for 2026, and they're rushing to fix things.
Now, people are saying that Ferrari is worried Mercedes has found something in the 2026 engine rules that could let them burn fuel faster. Audi and Honda also have the same worry.
GEORGE RUSSELL ADMITS ANTONELLI IS "EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK" BUT REFUSES TO CONCEDE TITLE
Kimi Antonelli secured his 3rd straight F1 win in Miami, leaving George Russell 43 seconds behind and 20 points down in the title race. (130 chars)
George Russell isn’t flinching. He’s not ready to let go of the story, even as Kimi Antonelli keeps grabbing headlines. Antonelli’s been tearing it up this season – three straight wins, all from pole – and it’s got people talking. Miami was rough for Russell; he finished fourth, over 43 seconds behind Antonelli. That gap isn’t just big; it’s glaring, and it’s putting some real heat on their rivalry at Mercedes.
Russell isn’t pretending things are fine, but he’s not throwing in the towel either. He gets what Antonelli’s doing and gives props where they’re deserved. “He’s a fantastic driver, and he’s been fast since day one,” Russell said. “You don’t win all those championships as a kid if you’re not quick.” He means it, but he’s also drawing a boundary. Russell still believes in himself, and he’s not giving up on the championship.
“I’ve still got confidence in myself, and I haven’t forgotten how to drive,” he said with a little smile. “It’s just a tricky patch, but we’re only four races in; there’s a lot more to come. We’ll sort things out over the next few weeks.”
That “tricky patch” doesn’t just mean some tough luck; it includes a 20-point deficit and a teammate who won’t stop rewriting history. Antonelli’s winning streak has changed the vibe at Mercedes, at least for now.
Russell knows all about momentum and how it doesn’t always stick around. “He’s got momentum right now; he’s flying,” Russell admitted. “But I’ve won championships myself, and I know momentum swings back and forth all year.” He actually doesn’t seem bothered by the points gap. “Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it,” he said.
It’s a calm answer from a guy who’s been here before, leaning on experience while Antonelli rides his hot streak. Russell keeps saying 'big picture, patience, not panic'.
“I just want to get back on top of the podium,” he said. “I had the pace for the first three races, but this weekend I was nowhere close. It could have gone very differently these last few weeks, and this weekend could’ve just been a blip. But some races in Japan and China didn’t go my way. That’s how F1 goes sometimes.”
Still, confidence doesn’t erase a 20-point gap, not if Antonelli keeps cruising. If Antonelli keeps piling up wins, Russell’s going to have to fight more than just the stopwatch. Losing to your teammate over and over starts to mess with your head. Russell began the season as the guy to beat, but the longer this keeps up, the tougher it gets to grab hold of the story again.
He’s holding firm, for now. But F1 doesn’t wait for anyone. What does Russell call “just a tricky run”? Well, if momentum doesn’t swing his way soon, it could become a whole lot more than that.
MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES FRONT ROW IN MIAMI AS RED BULL UPGRADES DELIVER IMMEDIATE RESULTS
Charles Leclerc admitted surprise at Red Bull's pace after Max Verstappen finished P2, just 0.166s behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.
Charles Leclerc expected Red Bull to bounce back, but he couldn’t help admiring Max Verstappen’s raw speed at the Miami Grand Prix.
Red Bull rolled into Miami with a big upgrade, looking to recover after a rough start to the season. Verstappen, a four-time world champ, landed his Red Bull in second during qualifying. He was only 0.166 seconds behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, nearly snatching pole. After qualifying, Verstappen said he finally feels like he’s back in control of his car.
Leclerc was impressed by the turnaround. “Honestly, it’s not shocking to see Kimi up there. Mercedes has been the quickest team this year, and Kimi’s been amazing these last few races,” Leclerc said. “But Max and Red Bull are coming back like this? That’s a bit more surprising. The upgrades clearly worked, and you can’t forget how strong that team really is. You never expect them to just sit back and accept a slow start.”
He added, “We figured they’d come back swinging, but to see them right back on the front row after struggling at the start… that’s something else. It’s pretty remarkable. Still, my job’s the same: beat those guys. That’s where my head’s at right now.”
Leclerc had to settle for third on the grid for Sunday’s race. Ferrari looked strong early in qualifying, but their hopes faded by Q3.
He talked about the changing conditions, but didn’t think that’s what hurt Ferrari. “The wind definitely played a part, but track temperature wasn’t all that different, so I don’t think that’s the reason,” he said. “Maybe the track changed, and we didn’t see it coming, or maybe pushing harder today in qualifying just made our car’s weak spots stand out more.”
Leclerc admitted he hadn’t dug into the numbers yet; he’d just gotten out of the car. “We’ll have to check the details to figure out exactly where we lost time.”
