Frederic Vasseur refrains from excessive expectations.

      As of the first half of the season, Ferrari occupies the second position in the Constructors' Championship, although they are significantly behind Mercedes, the championship leaders, with more than 70 points separating them. However, there are still many races ahead, so Frederic Vasseur and his team maintain an optimistic outlook.

      "It's like in school: things are going well, but they could be better. We have made a step forward compared to 2025, as we are showing higher results," noted the head of Scuderia in an interview with the French publication Auto Hebdo. "Our car is quite good, which could not be guaranteed in the first year of the new regulations.

      Mercedes is still ahead, at least in terms of engine efficiency. We expected that the year would be challenging in terms of engine performance. But considering the gap that was present at the beginning of the season, we are doing quite well. Although, of course, it is not enough, as we want to win."

      Ferrari is preparing to lay all their cards on the table after the summer break: the 12th round of the season, the Dutch Grand Prix, will take place on August 23 in Zandvoort – on a track known for its sharp turns and constant direction changes, where the special qualities of the SF-26 may well come into play. The car built in Maranello handles such turns excellently, as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have proven several times this year.

      After the Dutch round, Scuderia will face their home Grand Prix in Italy at Monza, which could be a defining moment in the second half of the championship, as Ferrari plans to present an upgraded version of the power unit, refined under the ADUO program.

      However, Vasseur tries to maintain a realistic mindset and refrains from excessive expectations: "Will we be able to fully make up the gap to Mercedes? I would say no. Of course, the updated power unit will help us. However, when we look at our competitors, the Mercedes and Red Bull teams, the difference in engine power gives them an advantage that does not exceed one or two tenths of a second per lap. And that's not much."