Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has warned that Formula 1 teams face a unique challenge as they wade through the uncertainty the sport’s new rulebook poses.
F1 2026 will see a brand new set of regulations that are perhaps the most unique and radical in history, promising one of the most unpredictable seasons in years.
The rule changes will undoubtedly see teams pore over each other’s data once testing begins, to find any indication of which outfit might have an edge.
But Vasseur believes that there could be big swings between teams across the early stages of the year, and managing the cost cap as teams look to find a competitive edge will be crucial.
“A key issue next season will be managing the budget cap,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Because if a team starts introducing four or five updates in the first races, or if – for example – they have to send a new underbody to a distant race like Japan or China, they’re burning through half their development budget at the start of the year.
“It will therefore be important to carefully evaluate step by step what to do, based on where we are.
“Whoever is ahead of everyone in Melbourne, at the first race, won’t necessarily have the winning car of the year.”
In a bid to stop the threat of one team potentially running away with the title, and others floundering at the back, the FIA has already introduced the Additional Development and Upgrades Opportunity [ADUO] scheme.
This will give teams the chance to develop their power units within the rules, provided they are deemed far enough behind to be allowed the leeway.
With Audi making its F1 debut and Red Bull powering its own cards [in collaboration with Ford] for the first time, there is even greater intrigue.
Mercedes’ powertrains have been deemed the early favourites, with Ferrari keen to make sure it will improve on its disappointing 2025 showing.
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