Ferrari has made it clear: enough is enough. Team principal Frederic Vasseur has hit back at criticism over the team’s stance on F1’s starting procedure rule changes. Mercedes’ George Russell recently accused Ferrari of being “selfish” and “a little bit silly” for blocking further changes to the start procedure ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.
The issue comes from the new power unit regulations this season, which have made race starts more complicated. A five-second ‘pre-start’ procedure was introduced for the season opener to help with this. However, after seeing varied performances in Melbourne, Russell suggested more tweaks to the rules were needed, hinting that Ferrari was hindering those changes.
Vasseur responded, stressing that Ferrari had already made significant adjustments. “We already changed massively the rule of the start with the five-second story,” he said. He recalled that a year ago, Ferrari raised concerns with the FIA about the start procedure, only to be told that the car had to fit the regulations, not the other way around.
Vasseur also pointed out that the changes, like the five-second rule and the blue light system, hadn’t helped Ferrari’s performance and that it was time to move on. “For me, yes,” he said firmly when asked if the issue was now closed from Ferrari’s side.
Ferrari’s Engine Upgrade Hope
While the starting procedure might be settled, there’s a chance Ferrari could gain an edge with the upcoming engine regulations. Vasseur sees potential in the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) rule, which will kick in for the 2026 season.
The ADUO allows manufacturers whose engine performance lags by at least two percent behind the best-performing engine to receive extra development opportunities for the rest of the season. Ferrari is hoping this could help them close the gap to the top teams like Mercedes. The first ADUO is set to take place after the sixth round of the season.
However, Vasseur doesn’t expect the rule change coming into effect on June 1, which involves testing engines in both hot and cold conditions, to be a game-changer. “It’s more that you will have the ADUO at one stage, and the introduction of the ADUO will be an opportunity for us to close the gap,” he said.
Ferrari’s Work is Far From Done
Despite the promise of engine upgrades, Vasseur knows Ferrari has a lot of work ahead. The team is fully aware that they’re still behind Mercedes, especially when it comes to top speed. “We know we have a deficit of performance, mainly in the straight line. We have to work on it,” Vasseur admitted.
Ferrari has made progress, improving from being eight-tenths off the pace in Melbourne to just six-tenths behind in China on Friday and four-tenths on Saturday. But Vasseur is under no illusion that Mercedes still has a clear advantage. “It’s not just about the engine,” he said. “We have to work everywhere. We need to improve the chassis, the tyres. Racing hasn’t changed. All the components of the performance are still on the table, and we can’t just focus on one area.”
As the season progresses, Ferrari’s challenge to catch up with Mercedes will continue. But Vasseur’s message is clear: the team is focused on improving across the board, and while it will take time, they are committed to closing the gap wherever they can.
