Domenicali backs Vasseur to lead Ferrari's bold 2026 resurgence after difficult 2025

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has publicly backed Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur and drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to execute a comprehensive plan during the winter break designed to restore the Maranello outfit's championship credentials in 2026. Despite a challenging 2025 campaign that saw Ferrari finish fourth in the constructors' championship, Domenicali's measured optimism signals the sport's governing body recognizes the legitimacy of the Scuderia's long-term strategy.

"You know, I'm a positive guy. I think that there's no need to cry. I think that there's no need to always be negative. They need to have a plan. And I'm sure that Fred [Vasseur] and Lewis and Charles have a plan, and that's what's important," Domenicali told Sky Sports. His emphasis on forward planning rather than post-mortems reflects a pragmatic understanding of Ferrari's strategic pivot—and the inherent risks it carried.

Understanding Ferrari's 2025 struggles

The Italian team's fourth-place finish masked a season of significant underperformance relative to pre-season expectations. Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, joined Ferrari ahead of 2025 following a dominant 12-year tenure at Mercedes, but struggled with the adjustment to his new environment. Leclerc and Hamilton finished the drivers' championship in fifth and sixth positions respectively, accumulating 242 and 156 points, neither driver able to consistently extract competitive performances from the SF-25.

The root cause of Ferrari's struggles stemmed from a controversial mid-season decision: Vasseur made the call in April 2025 to shift the team's entire development focus to 2026 regulations, effectively sacrificing upgrades to their already underperforming car for the remainder of the season. While this decision promised long-term competitive advantage, it created an immediate morale challenge that even the pragmatic team principal acknowledged.

Vasseur's calculated gamble

Vasseur has defended the decision as strategically sound, explaining that after assessing McLaren's commanding pace advantage and the points deficit, redirecting resources toward 2026 represented the optimal allocation of Ferrari's finite development capacity. "This decision was shared by everybody in the team," he noted, emphasizing that the drivers were part of the strategic discussion.

However, Vasseur conceded that he underestimated the psychological impact on team members and drivers of effectively surrendering development during a 20-race season. The mental toll of knowing no further competitive upgrades would arrive—despite another 20 races remaining on the calendar—created persistent friction within the organization that extended beyond technical concerns.

"If I underestimated something at this stage, it was the psychological effect on every single team member, including drivers," Vasseur admitted. "It's difficult, and probably I underestimated this for them, but also for me personally."

2026: the regulatory revolution

Ferrari's aggressive pivot toward 2026 gains credibility from the magnitude of regulatory change arriving next season. The FIA is implementing what Vasseur characterizes as "the biggest change that F1 has ever known"—involving completely new chassis designs, Michelin tyres, power units, batteries, fuel specifications, and sporting regulations. Teams are, effectively, starting from scratch.

This reality fundamentally justifies Ferrari's resource reallocation, even if the timing extracted a psychological cost. The new regulations introduce uncertainty that affects all teams, meaning competitive advantage will emerge progressively throughout the season rather than crystallizing immediately at the season opener.

Vasseur expects the true competitive picture to materialize only at the second and third winter tests in Bahrain, not during the initial Barcelona testing phase. Different teams will have pursued vastly different technical philosophies based on their interpretations of the regulations—some directions potentially differing by 180 degrees, according to Vasseur.

Winter development and the launch push

Rather than retreating during the winter break, Ferrari intends to maintain aggressive development momentum through to the absolute final moment. The team will complete assembly of its 2026 car on January 22, the day before its official launch event on January 23. This deliberate postponement of final assembly represents Vasseur's commitment to incorporating the latest developments and innovations, maximizing Ferrari's competitive window.

Domenicali emphasized the importance of the championship having a strong Ferrari, noting that "it's important to react, not to fade away as if it were normal to be fourth in the championship." The F1 CEO's backing suggests institutional recognition that Ferrari's strategy, while unconventional and psychologically taxing, contains sufficient merit to warrant confidence in Vasseur's execution.

The 2026 season will ultimately determine whether Ferrari's midseason gamble—sacrificing immediate competitiveness for concentrated development focus—yields the resurgence Domenicali, Vasseur, Hamilton, and Leclerc are collectively targeting. The foundational question remains unanswered: Did switching focus in April represent visionary resource management or a premature concession? The answer will arrive only when the cars take to the track.