Frederic Vasseur says Ferrari still have "tonnes of things to improve" in order to build on their competitive opening to F1's new era and that he was "very pleased" with Lewis Hamilton's start to his second season at the team.

Ferrari ran championship favourites Mercedes closest during last weekend's season-opening Australian Grand Prix with Charles Leclerc and Hamilton finishing third and fourth respectively after challenging eventual race winner George Russell early on.

Vasseur said he was satisfied with the team's step forward in the Melbourne race after difficulties in qualifying but added there was still much for them to get on top of in the early stages of F1's new-look regulations, with the Chinese Grand Prix - the season's first Sprint event - quickly next up this weekend.

"We know that we have tonnes of things to improve - on the strategy, on the engine, on the chassis, on the tyres, on everything," said the Ferrari team principal.

"And for the drivers to be used to deal with the car as it is today. If you have the radio of everybody, you saw that it's quite a challenge. It's true for us, but it's true for the others.

"The result will be based on our capacity to improve quickly."

Ferrari had to wait until the season's fifth round to secure a Grand Prix podium last season but their early 2026 form both in pre-season testing and Australia has offered the promise of a possible challenge for the world championships.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has already said "we have a fight on our hands with Ferrari" this year.

"The feeling is more positive than something else," added Vasseur.

"We had a tough Saturday [in Australia], I think we didn't put everything together. We were fourth and seventh, it was quite hard, but we recovered part of this [in the race]

"It's good to have two cars fighting also at the top, and we know that we have a very long list of improvements.

"It's true for us, but it's true for everybody on the grid, and the result of the season and the season will be based on the capacity that we have to develop, to bring upgrades, to produce quickly. And this will be key for the season, for everybody on the grid.

"Now I prefer to start the season in a good shape than in a bad shape, but it's still a long way to go."

Vasseur was also asked in his post-race briefing with the written media about Hamilton's performance in Melbourne - which saw the Briton finish on third-placed Leclerc's tail - and whether the seven-time world champion was 'back' after a disappointing 2025.

"Very pleased with the performance of Lewis over the weekend, but I think we have to stop saying one weekend he's there, one weekend he's not there," said Vasseur.

"It's a sport, sometimes we are doing a good session, sometimes not. [On Saturday] the quali, honestly, as a team principal, I was disappointed. [On Sunday] it was much better.

"It's part of the game that we have to work all together, to push all together."

Hamilton's hitherto best day as a Ferrari driver came at last year's Chinese Grand Prix, his second race weekend for the team, when he won the short-form Sprint.

Shanghai again stages the season's first Sprint event this weekend but, in wake of the wholesale change to the technical rules since 2025, Vasseur cautioned: "The fact that we were in good shape in the China Sprint last year, I'm not sure that it has something to do with this week.

"For sure, it will be difficult because we need time to adjust the strategy in terms of [energy] deployment and also on the driving."

Thursday March 12
5am: Drivers' Press Conference
8am: Paddock Uncut

Friday March 13
1.05am: F1 Academy Practice
3am: Chinese GP Practice (session starts at 3.30am)*
5.30am: Team Bosses Press Conference*
6am: F1 Academy Qualifying*
6.45am: Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 7.30am)*

Saturday March 14
2.25am: Chinese GP Sprint build-up*
3am: CHINESE GP SPRINT*
4.30am: Ted's Sprint Notebook*
5.30am: F1 Academy Race 1*
6.30am: Chinese GP Qualifying build-up*
7am: CHINESE GP QUALIFYING*
9am: Ted's Qualifying Notebook*

Sunday March 15
2.35am: F1 Academy Race 2*
5.30am: Chinese GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
7am: THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX*
9am: Chinese GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
10am: Ted's Notebook*

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1 heads to Shanghai for the first Sprint weekend of the 2026 season at the Chinese Grand Prix from this Friday, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime