Ferrari shwed promising speed at the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc posting the fastest times in both Friday practice sessions. However, team principal Frederic Vasseur was absent from Saturday qualifying after being placed under medical observation, and the Italian marque is actively opposing a proposed 2027 engine regulation shift.

Ferrari's Practice Dominance Sets Up Monaco Showdown

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finished first and second in each of the two practice sesisons on Friday , indicating the team may have the best weekend of the season after a winless spell since October 2024. The strong lap times suggest Ferrari has found a balance between chassis setup and tyre performance, a factor Vasseur highlighted in a pooled media interview.

Vasseur's Medical Observation Removes Team Principal from Qualifying

Ferrari confirmed that Frederic Vasseur, 58, will remain at a local medical facility for observation and will not attend qualifying on Saturday. The team said the decision follows a series of medical checks, and Vasseur himself noted the difficulty of delivering a clean out‑lap with a 10% larger grid this year.

Ferrari Blocks 2027 Engine Rule Shift Favoring Internal Combustion

Off the track, Ferrari is negotiating with rival engine manufacturers, the FIA and Formula 1’s commercial rights holder to stop a rule change that would move the power‑unit split from a near 50‑50 balance to 60‑40 in favour of internal combustion. According to the report, Ferrari wants to preserve the current regime to exploit development allowances that benefit teams with the strongest engine, while limiting Mercedes’ ability to upgrade its own power unit.

Unclear Impact of Vasseur's Absence on Qualifying Strategy

The team’s engineering staff will have to manage qualifying without Vasseur’s on‑track presence, raising questions about real‑time decision‑making and strategy calls ... While the practice results are encouraging, it remains to be seen whether the Scuderia can translate that pace into a pole position without its principal overseeing the session.

Who Will Lead Ferrari’s Qualifying Decisions?

The report does not name a replacement for Vasseur during qualifying, leaving a gap in leadership that could affect tyre choices and out‑lap execution. Fans and analysts will be watching to see which senior engineer steps into the spotlight.