Ferrari chairman Elkann opens up on Vasseur contract renewal

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Ferrari chairman John Elkann has offered a firm vote of confidence in team principal Fred Vasseur, explaining the rationale behind extending the Frenchman’s contract despite a challenging 2025 campaign.

The decision, announced on Thursday, has quashed months of speculation about Vasseur’s future, fueled by the Scuderia’s winless campaign year-to-date which has led to 268-point deficit to McLaren in F1’s Constructors’ championship.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, Elkann emphasized that the renewal wasn’t just a symbolic gesture, but a strategic decision rooted in continuity, trust, and unity within the Scuderia.

“We’ve really worked well with Fred, and when you work well, it’s important to continue working well,” Elkann told F1.com.

“The reality is that from the basis of these years, we all want to build more, and we know that, in Formula 1, times are such that what you really need is engagement, trust, and make sure that the time is there with you.”

Stability as the Foundation for Success

Elkann underscored the critical importance of long-term relationships in achieving performance gains in Formula 1, especially when a team is under pressure.

“The natural evolution of the relationship with Fred, that has been a very strong relationship and one that you can feel, and it’s palpable in Ferrari, just the importance of how stability makes a big impact on results. That’s really what we all want,” he said.

Despite Ferrari’s challenging season, Elkann is adamant that the ingredients for success are already in place – what matters now is how they come together.

©Ferrari

“We’ve had a rough season, and that is why it is really important to ensure that we end well and we start the second half very strong and full of energy,” he stated.

“Ferrari wants to win, has won, will win, when it’s able to get everyone together. What’s important in Ferrari is not the individual, but it’s the individuals.

“Those individuals, when they work together, they can do incredible things. That has been very much the case in Formula 1.

Read also: Leclerc cheers Vasseur’s new deal - but eyes tough Hungarian GP

“We all remember when we were victorious, and we were victorious because there was a very strong sense that incredible individuals – from our engineers, our mechanics, our pilots, our team principal – were really individuals that worked together.

“So it’s not about the individual, but it’s about the collective effort of great individuals who can achieve even more together.”

With Vasseur's future now secure, Ferrari aims to channel that collective spirit as it fights to restore its place at the top of Formula 1.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.