Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok has highlighted Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur’s pragmatic and no nonsense management style as a key ingredient of the Italian outfit’s resurgence and new-found stability.
Vasseur replaced Mattia Binotto at the helm of the Scuderia at the start of the 2023 season and undertook key organizational changes that laid the groundwork for the team’s return to title-contending form last season.
Under the Frenchman’s methodical influence, Ferrari now exudes a renewed sense of calm and purpose, void of strategic errors and internal turmoil.
A Calm and Methodical Leader
Reflecting on Vasseur’s leadership style on the Evo India podcast, Chandhok emphasized the Ferrari’s chief’s realistic and down-to-earth demeanor and ability to remain focused in the high-pressure environment of Formula 1.
“He’s very experienced in the sport but also he’s a very no-nonsense character,” Chandhok said.
“He doesn’t get involved in the politics. He doesn’t get involved in all of the noise that can sometimes destabilise the team.”
Chandhok, who has known Vasseur for many years, commended the latter’s calm and pragmatic nature.
“What I like about him is that he’s very calm, very methodical. He doesn’t get overexcited,” he added.
Furthermore, Chandhok noted how Vasseur’s grounded mentality was on full display after Ferrari’s dominant performance in last year’s Mexico City Grand Prixo, where Carlos Sainz cruised to a dominant win.
The Sky Sports F1 commentator recounted his conversation with Vasseur after the race.
“I remember I went to see him in Mexico after the race. They dominated. Sainz had absolutely dominated the race, cruised to victory and I was saying to him ‘The constructors’ is on, you can do it,’ and he said ‘No, we’re not going to talk about it.
‘We’re going to talk about the debrief, talk about Brazil. We’re talking about the next race, one by one. That’s all I care about. Taking it as it happens.’
“He’s got a very, very pragmatic practical approach,” added the former F1 driver.
Ferrari’s Road Back to Glory
Ferrari’s recent improvements under Vasseur come at a critical time for the team.
With Lewis Hamilton joining Charles Leclerc in 2025, the team now boasts the strongest driver pairing on the grid, amplifying expectations for both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.
The Scuderia narrowly missed out on second place in the constructors’ standings in 2024, finishing just 13 points behind McLaren.
But Vasseur’s steady hand has positioned Ferrari to aim for their first championship since 2008, when they secured the constructors’ title with Felipe Massa and Kimi Räikkönen.
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