Fred Vasseur Rejects Red Bull as F1’s Team to Beat Despite Verstappen’s Winning Streak
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur believes Formula 1’s competitive order remains unpredictable, despite Max Verstappen securing consecutive Grand Prix victories from pole position.
Red Bull has emerged as a formidable force in recent races, with a significant upgrade introduced in Baku helping Verstappen extend his podium streak and move within a handful of points of second place in the Drivers’ Championship.
The team’s resurgence has also strengthened its position in the Constructors’ Championship battle, closing the gap to McLaren.
However, Vasseur is reluctant to declare Red Bull the outright benchmark, arguing that the balance of power between Formula 1’s leading teams has shifted repeatedly throughout the 2026 season.
Vasseur Questions Red Bull’s Status as the Benchmark
Asked whether Red Bull had become the team to beat, Vasseur dismissed the suggestion that the competitive hierarchy had been definitively established.
“Not sure. Honestly, they’re doing very well, but they’re not the team to beat,” Vasseur said.
The Ferrari boss pointed to the changing fortunes of Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull as evidence that no single team has maintained a decisive advantage throughout the campaign.
Mercedes initially set the pace before Ferrari and McLaren enjoyed periods of success. Red Bull has since responded with its own run of victories, underlining how quickly the competitive picture can change.
“If you look at McLaren and Mercedes, if you look back from the beginning of the season, Mercedes was flying, then we won two races, then McLaren won two races, then Red Bull won two or three,” Vasseur explained.
His assessment reflects the increasingly competitive nature of the season, with development programmes and relatively small performance differences capable of reshaping the running order.
Ferrari Boss Expects Further Changes in the Competitive Order
Vasseur believes the close competition between Formula 1’s four leading teams means further changes remain possible before the end of the season.
He highlighted how tightly matched the front-running teams have become, suggesting that even a relatively modest development step could alter their positions.
“I think it changes because very often you have four teams. I think yesterday you had four teams within less than two tenths,” he said.
“That means if someone brings upgrades next week, the order can change.”
Rather than focusing on Red Bull’s recent progress or attempting to predict which rival might gain the upper hand, Vasseur emphasised the importance of Ferrari concentrating on its own performance.
“But the most important thing is to stay focused on ourselves, not to think about the others.”
The message is particularly relevant as the championship enters another critical phase, with the leading teams continuing to pursue improvements while fighting for valuable points.
Ferrari’s Singapore Victory Chances Compromised at the Start
Beyond the wider competitive picture, Vasseur also reflected on Ferrari’s missed opportunity at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc had an opportunity to challenge Verstappen at the start but hesitated to attack, a moment that ultimately proved costly for Ferrari’s hopes of victory.
According to Vasseur, the characteristics of the Marina Bay circuit made track position especially important, with drivers struggling to follow rival cars even when they were several seconds behind.
The Ferrari team principal explained that the difficulties were evident throughout the race, including when his drivers approached slower cars to lap them.
“It was clear for us, even when we were lapping other cars, as soon as you were two or three seconds behind, you were struggling more,” Vasseur said.
“It was clear on every lap when we were lapping someone. For sure, you lose time when you overtake, but even before, when you were two or three seconds behind, it was difficult.”
The difficulty of following another car reinforced the importance of gaining positions immediately after the start, particularly on a street circuit where overtaking opportunities are limited.
“That means the position at Turn 1 was critical,” Vasseur concluded.
Ferrari Remains Focused on Its Own Development
While Red Bull’s recent victories have strengthened Verstappen’s momentum, Vasseur remains convinced that the current competitive order is far from permanent.
With Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull all having demonstrated race-winning potential during the season, the Ferrari boss sees no reason to assume that one team’s advantage will necessarily continue.
For Ferrari, the priority is to maximise its own development, improve execution and capitalise on opportunities that could prove decisive in such a closely contested field.
Singapore demonstrated how small moments, particularly at the start of a race, can determine the outcome when overtaking is difficult.
Vasseur’s position remains consistent: Red Bull deserves recognition for its recent performances, but Ferrari’s attention must remain firmly on improving its own competitiveness rather than treating any rival as an unbeatable benchmark.
