Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur expressed satisfaction with Lewis Hamilton's performance during the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, where the seven-time world champion finished fourth behind teammate Charles Leclerc. The team showed competitive pace against Mercedes, challenging eventual winner George Russell early in the race despite difficulties in qualifying. Vasseur emphasized that while the result was promising, Ferrari still have "tonnes of things to improve" across multiple areas.

Vasseur highlighted specific areas needing attention including strategy, engine performance, chassis setup, and tire management as teams adapt to F1's new technical regulations. The Chinese Grand Prix marks the first Sprint weekend of the season, presenting additional challenges for teams still learning the intricacies of the new cars. Hamilton's previous success at Shanghai came during last year's Sprint format, though Vasseur cautioned against drawing parallels given the wholesale rule changes.

The early-season form suggests Ferrari could challenge for championships after waiting until the fifth round for their first podium in 2025. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has already acknowledged Ferrari as serious competition. Vasseur stressed that success will depend on the team's capacity to develop quickly and bring upgrades throughout the season, with every team on the grid facing similar adaptation challenges.