Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur nearly lost his composure during Friday’s team bosses’ press conference at the Canadian Grand Prix, delivering a scathing rebuke to what he called “stupid” speculation about his future with the Scuderia.
The Frenchman’s pointed remarks targeted certain Italian media outlets for spreading baseless rumors that he described as not only disrespectful but actively harmful to the team’s morale and focus.
Ferrari, despite holding second place in the Constructors’ Championship, trails McLaren by a staggering 197 points and has yet to secure a victory this season.
The team’s championship drought, unbroken since 2008, has fueled intense scrutiny of its leadership, with Vasseur the latest to face the relentless Italian media spotlight. Yet, rather than cower, Vasseur came out swinging, accusing some journalists of using cheap tactics to destabilize the team.
Vasseur’s frustration boiled over as he addressed the personal toll of the rumors, particularly their impact on Ferrari’s staff.
“First, I have to stay calm because I will have to [report] to the stewards,” he said, visibly restraining his anger. “It’s some Italian media, it’s not all Italian media. It’s not about myself, I think, because this, I can manage.
“It’s more about the people of the team. To throw their name like this, I think it’s just disrespectful for them, for the family. We had the case last year with the chief of aero, Loic [Serra]. I don’t know the target.
“I don’t understand the target. Perhaps it’s to give s**t to the team, but in this case, I don’t see the point. Perhaps it’s for them the only way to exist. This is probably more the reason, but it’s really hurting the team.”
He went further, arguing that such speculation undermines Ferrari’s championship aspirations by sowing distraction.
“At one stage, it’s a lack of focus. When you are fighting for the championship, every single detail makes a difference. From the beginning of the weekend, we are just thinking about this,” Vasseur said.
“If it’s their target to put the team in this situation, they reached their goal, but I think it’s not like this that we’ll be able to win a championship, and at least not with this kind of journalists around us.”
Vasseur was particularly incensed by the media’s cavalier treatment of his staff, emphasizing the human cost of their reporting. When asked if such scrutiny was simply part of being Ferrari’s boss, he dismissed the notion that it justified the attacks.
“No, but to be the Team Principal, I knew when I joined, when I took the position that you are exposed, this I think it’s quite easy to manage,” he said. “It’s more for the people of the team.
“They are working very hard, to decide one day that this one will be replaced, this one will be replaced, this one is useless.
“Honestly, it’s very, very harsh because these journalists, I’m not putting everybody in the same basket, but they have to consider that these people, they have family, they have wives, they have kids, and this is completely unrespectful.
“Now I don’t want to speak anymore about this stupid.”
His blunt dismissal of the topic signaled a man fed up with defending against what he sees as malicious fiction.
Amid the storm, Vasseur found solace in the backing of Ferrari’s drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton, who raced under Vasseur’s leadership during his 2006 GP2 championship, has publicly endorsed him as “the person” to steer Ferrari forward.
Leclerc, meanwhile, has consistently reaffirmed his commitment to the team, a fact Vasseur highlighted to counter the narrative of internal discord.
©Ferrari
“I think Charles has a long-term contract with us,” Vasseur said. “Each single interview from the beginning of the season, he’s telling that he wants to stay with Ferrari, he wants to win with Ferrari, his future is with Ferrari.
“But every single Monday, we have articles telling that Charles will go next year. At one stage, I don’t know what we have to do.”
He expressed exasperation at the repetitive cycle of rumors.
“I’m sorry, and I can’t repeat every single weekend the same thing. But it is like it is. Now, with Lewis and Charles, I think we have a good relationship altogether. We have a clear target, we know that we have to work, we know that we have to push.
“But the mood in the team is very good. It’s the basics if you want to recover and to win. But everything is there, everything is on the table to do a good job.”
The calm exterior of Oscar Piastri may have finally cracked at Silverstone – and according…
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has revealed that a critical GPS failure during the British…
Fernando Alonso didn’t hold back during last weekend’s British Grand Prix, voicing clear frustration over…
Lando Norris may have thrilled the home crowd with a dramatic British Grand Prix victory,…
Dan Gurney and Porsche took their first F1 World Championship victory on this day in…
In a season of struggles for Alpine, Pierre Gasly delivered a much-needed breakthrough performance at…