Italian GP Friday Press Conference: Ferrari Optimism, Red Bull Challenges, and Haas's Progress

Monza, Italy – Team principals from Ferrari, Red Bull Racing, and Haas gathered for the Friday press conference at the Italian Grand Prix, discussing their teams' current form, future plans, and broader F1 topics.

Why it matters:

Ferrari enters its home race with renewed optimism despite a tough Zandvoort weekend. Red Bull faces a historical challenge at Monza, while Haas aims to convert its race-day performance into stronger qualifying results. Discussions also covered critical F1-wide issues like sustainable fuels and the legacy of current power units.

Ferrari's View:

Frédéric Vasseur expressed a positive mood within Ferrari, emphasizing strong support from the Tifosi at Monza. Despite a challenging Zandvoort, the team made a good recovery. Vasseur remains cautious after a strong FP1, refusing to draw early conclusions but aiming for race wins in the season's second half. He also paid tribute to Niki Lauda, an iconic figure in F1 history.

Red Bull's Perspective:

Laurent Mekies acknowledged Red Bull's struggles at Monza last year and is keen to see if their understanding has improved. Max Verstappen reported the car maintaining its characteristic limitations even with lower downforce. Mekies, in his new role, is focusing on mapping out future improvements for the team. Regarding drivers, he confirmed that Yuki Tsunoda's seat is secure for the rest of the season, with no plans for in-season changes. Isack Hadjar's impressive progress is noted, but decisions for next year will be made without rush.

Haas's Strategy:

Ayao Komatsu reflected on Haas's double points finish in Zandvoort, noting it was a result of strong race-day execution despite poor qualifying. He emphasized the need to maximize potential on Saturdays. Komatsu highlighted operational changes made over the winter, which are slowly yielding results, and stressed the importance of consistent performance across all sessions.

Broader F1 Discussions:

• Fuel Costs & Sustainable Fuel: Mekies and Vasseur both highlighted the immense challenge and importance of transitioning to 100% sustainable fuel in 2026, acknowledging the associated costs but emphasizing F1's step forward. They noted ongoing discussions about managing future costs.
• Red Bull's PU Project: Mekies agreed with Toto Wolff's assessment that Red Bull's in-house power unit project is a "Mount Everest" to climb, acknowledging the challenge against experienced manufacturers but expressing confidence in Red Bull's approach.
• Engine & Car Legacy: All three principals lauded the current engine generation (introduced in 2014) for its incredible efficiency and the ground-effect cars (2022) for delivering exciting, close racing, despite initial challenges like porpoising. They anticipate similar adaptation and convergence with the 2026 regulations.
• Driver Penalties: Komatsu confirmed Haas strategically took a power unit penalty in Zandvoort. Vasseur and Mekies indicated their teams are currently on track to avoid penalties, with Vasseur expressing disappointment but acceptance of Lewis Hamilton's carry-over penalty from Zandvoort, calling such subjective decisions frustrating.