Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur has stated that Red Bull Racing is not currently the team to beat in Formula 1, despite Max Verstappen securing consecutive victories. Verstappen recently achieved back-to-back wins at the Bahrain Grand Prix, held in Malaysia, and the Singapore Grand Prix.
Vasseur’s comments follow a period where the competitive hierarchy in Formula 1 has shown significant fluctuation. Mercedes began the 2026 season with a strong package, securing six consecutive Grand Prix victories.
Ferrari then claimed two race wins, followed by McLaren also taking two victories. Red Bull Racing subsequently achieved two or three wins, indicating a dynamic championship.
Verstappen’s recent success includes his first win of the 2026 season at the Bahrain Grand Prix, which took place at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 4, 2026.
He started that rain-affected race from pole position, ultimately finishing ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton.
One week later, on October 11, 2026, Verstappen secured his first Singapore Grand Prix victory at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
He also won the inaugural Singapore F1 Sprint race on October 10, 2026, after George Russell crashed out early.
Verstappen qualified on pole for the Singapore Grand Prix, outpacing Charles Leclerc by 0.054 seconds, with Hamilton qualifying third.
Red Bull’s RB22 car, driven by Verstappen and Isack Hadjar, received a significant upgrade package at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
This development improved the RB22’s performance, making it more predictable and driveable for Verstappen.
Red Bull has introduced 36 upgrades to the RB22 this season, with notable alterations at the Miami and Austrian Grands Prix.
Despite these improvements, Vasseur maintains that the competitive landscape remains open. He noted that four teams were often within a narrow performance window in recent races.
“Honestly, they are doing very well, but it’s not the team to beat. If you look at the McLaren and Mercedes, if you have a look 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. The pecking order is changing.”
Ferrari’s own development strategy for its SF-26 car in 2026 has involved a ‘little and often’ approach to upgrades.
The team currently holds second place in the Constructors’ Championship, maintaining a 105-point lead over McLaren and 112 points over Red Bull.
In Singapore, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished second, while Lewis Hamilton placed sixth.
Hamilton’s result was impacted by a strategic error during a Virtual Safety Car period when he missed the pit entry and opted to remain on track.
This decision, for which Hamilton took responsibility, cost Ferrari a potential double podium finish.
Vasseur suggested that had Leclerc maintained the lead into Turn 1 at the start of the Singapore Grand Prix, Verstappen would have faced a more challenging race.
In the Drivers’ Championship, Kimi Antonelli leads with 340 points. Max Verstappen is fourth with 221 points, while Charles Leclerc is six points behind Verstappen.
The 2026 season’s cost cap was increased to $215 million, influencing team upgrade strategies.
Red Bull has indicated it may reduce further upgrades in the latter half of the season due to these financial restrictions.
