Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has identified the upcoming front-wing regulation change as a possible inflection point in the 2025 Formula 1 season, as the Italian team faces a deficit of more than 150 points to surprise Constructors&rsquo; Championship leaders McLaren after just six races.
In an interview at Ferrari&rsquo;s Maranello base, Vasseur described the new technical directive as &ldquo;a potential game changer,&rdquo; suggesting it could have a notable effect on the competitive dynamics at the front of the grid.
The regulation, introduced by the FIA in January, is set to come into force at the Spanish Grand Prix from May 30 to June 1. It will reduce the allowable front wing flex from 15mm to 10mm, tightening the rules around aerodynamic flexibility&mdash;an area where several leading teams, including Red Bull and McLaren, are believed to have gained an advantage through interpretation.
&ldquo;The biggest one probably will be Spain because we have a clear change of regulation with the completely new front wing,&rdquo; said Vasseur. &ldquo;This could change a little bit the picture of the championship. Let&rsquo;s wait for this.&rdquo;
While acknowledging that the directive is unlikely to alter the overall standings immediately, Vasseur indicated it could shift the relative performance between teams. &ldquo;It could be a reset on the immediate picture, but not on the championship,&rdquo; he stated.
Ferrari&rsquo;s optimism surrounding the rule change appears to stem from the expectation that key rivals&mdash;particularly McLaren&mdash;may be impacted most. Both Vasseur and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner have hinted that McLaren&rsquo;s pace, which has propelled its drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to first and second in the Drivers&rsquo; Championship, could be affected by the update.
McLaren, however, has maintained that its performance will remain unaffected. Both Norris and Piastri have voiced confidence that their pace will not suffer under the new rules, and the team&rsquo;s technical department has indicated that its aerodynamic approach already adheres to the intended interpretation.
The FIA previously introduced a similar regulation earlier in the season, aimed at limiting rear wing flex at the Chinese Grand Prix. That adjustment had minimal effect on the competitive order. Vasseur, however, believes the upcoming front wing rule could be more impactful, given the importance of front-end aerodynamics to overall balance and tyre management.
Ferrari entered the 2025 season with high expectations, following the marquee signing of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. But results have fallen short. The team currently sits third in the Constructors&rsquo; standings, while Hamilton occupies seventh place in the Drivers&rsquo; Championship, 12 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc, who is fifth.
Hamilton has managed a Sprint race win in China and a third-place finish in the Miami Sprint, though his performance over full race distances has been inconsistent, with ongoing struggles in qualifying continuing to hinder his transition to Ferrari.
&ldquo;The car is not at the level that we were expecting&hellip; I think in this situation, it&rsquo;s even more difficult for a new driver to adapt,&rdquo; said Vasseur. He continued, &ldquo;If you are flying and winning every single weekend, it&rsquo;s much easier to adapt. But I would say that as long as the collaboration is positive and constructive&hellip; I&rsquo;m quite confident about the future.&rdquo;
Tensions surfaced during the Miami Grand Prix, where Hamilton was heard expressing frustration over race strategy on the team radio. The remarks, broadcast live, led to speculation regarding his comfort with Ferrari&rsquo;s race-day operations.
Vasseur dismissed any concern. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m never upset with this, as long as we are able to have a good discussion after&hellip; They are not happy sometimes with the result or with the strategy or with the balance of the car, and they are live for millions of people,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Most important for me is the content of the debrief.&rdquo;
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Ferrari hopes a new front wing regulation debuting in Spain will disrupt McLaren’s dominance in the 2025 season.

Ferrari Sees Front Wing Rule as Turning Point

Ferrari hopes a new front wing regulation debuting in Spain will disrupt McLaren’s dominance in the 2025 season.

May 16, 2025 | 24:01 IST