Fred Vasseur has criticised the FIA over a series of rule changes that he believes unfairly hurt Ferrari’s early-season advantage, insisting the Italian team were effectively punished for solving a problem that other teams failed to address.
Ferrari enjoyed an impressive start to the 2026 Formula 1 season, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc securing podium finishes in each of the opening three races. The Scuderia quickly established itself as Mercedes’ closest challenger and appeared to have developed one of the strongest all-round packages on the grid.
A major strength of Ferrari’s package was its race starts. The Maranello-based squad had reportedly developed a power unit capable of delivering strong launches off the line, while several rival teams struggled to get their turbo systems fully prepared before lights out. As a result, some drivers were losing positions almost immediately after the start due to poor acceleration and delayed power delivery.
However, concerns about safety prompted the FIA to intervene. The governing body introduced a revised pre-start procedure featuring a blue warning light designed to give drivers additional time to spool up their turbochargers before the race begins. This effectively extended the start sequence and helped prevent drivers from bogging down on the grid.
The FIA also implemented a new anti-stall measure aimed at reducing the risk of dangerous incidents during race starts. The system provides a small burst of additional energy to cars struggling off the line, helping them move away safely and reducing the risk of collisions from faster-starting cars behind.
While the FIA defended the changes on safety grounds, Vasseur made it clear that Ferrari were frustrated by the timing and impact of the decision. According to the Ferrari boss, the team had already raised concerns regarding inconsistent race starts with the FIA last year, only to be told to improve their own system rather than expect regulatory assistance.
Speaking to The Race, Vasseur suggested Ferrari had done exactly what was asked of them, only for the rules to later change once their rivals continued struggling.
“Imagine without the blue light, some cars would still be on the grid in China,” Vasseur explained. “You can put safety on the table, and of course it’s the FIA’s responsibility, so we have to accept it. But honestly, from our side, it feels a bit unfair.”
The Frenchman also revealed that Ferrari had repeatedly discussed the issue with the FIA through multiple official channels, including the Sporting Advisory Committee and the Power Unit Advisory Committee.
Vasseur hinted that politics may have played a role in the eventual decision, with Ferrari now feeling disadvantaged after investing significant resources into solving the problem independently. Since the rule tweaks were introduced, both Red Bull Racing and McLaren Formula 1 Team have appeared more competitive, particularly during the Miami Grand Prix weekend where Ferrari’s early edge seemed to disappear.
Despite his frustration, Vasseur acknowledged that Ferrari must ultimately comply with FIA regulations, even if the team believes the latest measures have reduced one of their biggest competitive advantages.
