Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has insisted the team’s Formula 1 title hopes are still alive, as he argued McLaren’s current advantage should be taken with a “pinch of salt”.
The Maranello-based squad’s troubled beginning to the 2025 season continued at the Chinese Grand Prix as a challenging race preceded both cars being disqualified.
Ferrari had entered the weekend reiterating that the potential embedded within the SF-25 was greater than the side’s meagre five-point haul in Australia had indicated.
Lewis Hamilton appeared to deliver on that vow when he produced a dominant drive in the Sprint race to convert pole position and secure his maiden win with Ferrari.
However, Ferrari’s competitiveness stalled relative to the opposition as the weekend developed, culminating in Hamilton and Charles Leclerc locking out the third row.
The Italian marque was unable to improve on those positions in the race and the team’s anguish was compounded as both cars failed post-race scrutineering checks.
But despite leaving Shanghai having lost further ground to its rivals, Vasseur was keen to emphasise that Ferrari’s weekend contained more positives than Melbourne.
“I think we had a lot of positives from the weekend, starting with Lewis’ pole and victory and Charles’ race pace today,” Vasseur said.
“We also had negatives, like the fact that it’s much more difficult to understand Lewis’ pace today or the pace we had at the end of qualifying.
“We are still on the limit to get the best out of the car and the team and we need to improve in this area.”
Ferrari’s conundrum with the SF-25
Vasseur is convinced the sporadic promise Ferrari has shown over the opening rounds demonstrates that the team is still to exploit the SF-25’s maximum potential.
“I am still struggling to have a clear picture of the situation,” he admitted. “If you draw a conclusion after FP2 in Melbourne, we are in good shape.
“On Saturday after the Sprint race we are in great shape and then two hours later we are in difficulty.
“I think it is too early. I have the feeling that we are not yet getting the best out of the car, the best example is Charles who drove a strong race today.”
Ferrari denies McLaren uncatchable
McLaren has delivered on the expectation it would be the team to beat as consecutive victories – including a 1-2 in China – have placed the reigning champions on top.
However, Vasseur has pinpointed that Red Bull possessed an even bigger advantage than McLaren 12 months ago and proceeded to surrender the Constructors’ title.
“I think the gap with McLaren is the same as we had with Red Bull last year, when they did a 1-2 in the first two races,” the Frenchman highlighted.
“If we went back to the press conference of the second race last year, you would probably have asked me: ‘Do you think they will be champions in June?’
“That’s why we have to take it with a pinch of salt.
“They are in good shape, they are going well, the pace is strong, that’s clear. And I think they are a step forward, but it’s not the end of the championship.”
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