Ferrari has been at the forefront of innovative design strategies on its Formula 1 car this season, demonstrating a shift in mindset at Maranello under team boss Fred Vasseur.
The team has introduced inventive concepts such as the ‘Macarena’ rear wing, the exhaust wing, and winglets on its halo. These developments highlight a change in approach, with Ferrari exploring the boundaries of regulations to unlock performance gains.
Conservatism Out, Innovation In
Vasseur noted that, upon his arrival, he observed a gap due to staff playing it safe to avoid potential exposure. He said the first thing that shocked him was the gap on every single topic, just because they didn’t want to be exposed.
Since Loic Serra’s arrival as technical director in October 2024, this drive for marginal gains has further accelerated. Vasseur explained that there was perhaps a team culture that was a bit on the back foot. Now, the team is seeking marginal gains in every area.
The Impact of Marginal Gains
Vasseur illustrated the impact of the old mindset by highlighting how small margins added up. He said that adding a kilo more weight, half a litre more of fuel, or opening the sidepod more, ultimately cost them two tenths of a second.
He emphasized that while a margin of zero isn’t feasible, the difference between zero and two tenths contains a crucial tenth. Considering that the average gap between Ferrari and the frontrunners was three hundredths of a second, the impact of one tenth becomes significant.
Encouraging Openness and Risk-Taking
Vasseur is actively promoting a culture where team members are encouraged to push limits. He stated that he’s pushing like hell to convince everybody that they are all a performance contributor, which aligns with Loic’s mindset.
This includes encouraging more extreme ideas that can unlock performance in unexplored areas. Vasseur wants to push everything, all day, to say ‘don’t be shy’.
He added that the team never blames someone if they propose something that doesn’t work. He noted that some examples have already been seen on the car, with more to come, as the team embraces this innovative mindset.
Innovation is Secondary to Lap Time
Vasseur clarified that the ultimate goal isn’t just to innovate, but to improve lap times. He cautioned against overestimating the emphasis on visible innovation, noting that some innovations are not visible because they are on the aero side.
The target is not to innovate, but laptime.