Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur stressed the need for the Scuderia to embrace risk-taking in its pursuit of the Formula 1 world championship, warning that teams failing to push the boundaries will struggle to remain competitive.
The Maranello-based outfit concluded the 2024 season in second place in the Constructors' Championship after a battle with McLaren that lasted until the final round in Abu Dhabi. With the upcoming campaign expected to be fiercely contested, Ferrari is targeting an immediate return to winning ways while also balancing long-term development ahead of the 2026 regulations overhaul.
Speaking to F1 TV, Vasseur highlighted the challenges ahead: "Everyone has to take risks. If you don’t, you’re dead. Developing a new car is always complicated, but it is even more so this year because 2025 will not be a season like the others.
"We will have to start working on 2026 soon and for this reason, it will be essential to be competitive straight away in Bahrain. With development that will be stopped early, those who start late will have little chance of recovering," predicted Vasseur
A high stakes season for Ferrari with Hamilton and Leclerc
Beyond technical development, the upcoming season will also mark Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari, adding another layer of expectation as the team - with 'homegrown' Charles Leclerc - prepares for battles with Red Bull, McLaren, and Mercedes.
Vasseur explained: "I think we are making good progress, both as a team and on a technical level. We are going in the right direction, but the level of competitiveness will be very high. McLaren is working well, Red Bull and Mercedes will do everything to return to the top, and we expect a battle between at least four teams. It will be a tough challenge, but if we do everything right, we can fight for the title."
Ferrari’s 2025 challenger, the SF-25, will have to strike a fine balance between immediate performance and the long-term implications of development restrictions. With regulatory changes looming, every decision will shape not just Ferrari’s championship hopes but also the wider competitive order in Formula 1.
2025 F1 testing takes place on 26, 27 and 28 February 2025 at the Bahrain International Circuit with the season-opening Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne
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