Fred Vasseur has apparently decided that even mentioning the championship is bad luck. According to Italian media, the Ferrari team principal has taken the unusual step of banning his entire outfit from using the words 'world championship fight' around the Maranello factory. It's a bold move that suggests he wants his team focused entirely on execution rather than getting caught up in title fever halfway through 2026.

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The reasoning makes some sense when you look at where Ferrari actually stands right now. They're only 72 points behind Mercedes in the constructors' championship despite winning just two of the first eleven races, while Mercedes have claimed eight victories. That's the kind of position that could easily turn people's heads if they start thinking about bigger prizes. In the drivers' championship, things are even more intriguing, with Charles Leclerc Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton just 31 points adrift of Hamilton.

Hamilton himself has managed to inject some real tension into the 2026 season since joining Ferrari, pushing himself into genuine contention despite starting the year as an outsider. Meanwhile, Leclerc's recent form has been seriously impressive, picking up a win at Silverstone followed by second place in Belgium. Both drivers are clearly capable of fighting for something special, which is precisely why Vasseur apparently wants them thinking about the next race rather than hoisting trophies in November.

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The second half of the campaign is shaping up as a proper development battle between the top four teams, with Mercedes potentially having enjoyed their most dominant stretch already without building as commanding a lead as they might have expected. Ferrari's focused approach on car development and power unit upgrades suggests they believe the gaps could close substantially come the later rounds. Sometimes the best way to win a championship is to act like you're not even fighting for one.

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Charles Leclerc has already publicly stated he's not thinking about either championship, preferring to concentrate on individual races following the Hungarian Grand Prix. Vasseur seems to have taken that mentality and made it official policy, which is either brilliant psychology or the kind of thing that'll look silly if Ferrari ends up throwing away a real opportunity.

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