Vasseur on life in red: ‘At Ferrari, you live in constant duality’

Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur says leading the Scuderia has been a journey of intensity, pride, and paradox – describing his time in Maranello as living in “constant duality,” caught between reverence for Ferrari’s past and the relentless drive to shape its future.

Vasseur, who took the reins at Ferrari in January 2023, replacing Mattia Binotto, admits that nothing could have prepared him for the scale of passion and expectation that comes with running Formula 1’s most iconic team.

“At the start of my Formula 1 career, Ferrari was not necessarily my goal,” he said on Bloomberg’s Power Players podcast. “You only truly understand the power of the Prancing Horse when you walk through those gates.”

He recalled that first day in Maranello as a defining moment.

“Before entering, it’s almost impossible to grasp what Ferrari really represents. Once inside, the energy is overwhelming, in a positive way,” he explained.

“When you arrive in Maranello, no matter what time it is, there are always people waiting outside. During the previous ten years I spent in other teams, I had never seen so many fans gathered outside the factory.

"That first day here surpasses any previous experience.”

That extraordinary devotion, he says, is both a gift and a burden.

“It gives you huge energy but also increases the pressure.”

Pride, Pressure, and the Ferrari Magic

As the most successful and storied team in Formula 1, Ferrari carries the weight of history – and the impatience of the Tifosi, still yearning for a world title after nearly two decades.

“At every circuit, wherever we race, half the crowd is dressed in red,” Vasseur said.

“Last year, winning at Monza triggered a celebration like no other: when the mechanics returned to the factory in the middle of the night, the supporters were still there waiting for them. That’s something that usually happens only in football – almost surreal for Formula 1.”

He admits that passion fuels the team – but also sharpens the scrutiny.

“This passion gives you incredible motivation, but it also raises the pressure. I try to be the first one to feel the weight of those expectations,” he said, admitting that this is what makes Ferrari unique.

“In Ferrari, you live in constant duality: you’re proud of a legendary history, yet compelled to look ahead. That’s the magic that makes Ferrari different from every other team.”

Read also:

• Vasseur warns F1 to plan ahead: 'We have to decide the future now'

Vasseur’s leadership has brought a renewed sense of direction to Maranello, with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton showing faith in his long-term vision. Yet as he steers Ferrari toward the major 2026 regulation overhaul, he knows sentiment alone won’t deliver results.

Between the energy of the past and the pressure of the present, Fred Vasseur remains the man trying to turn the Scuderia’s eternal expectations into its long-awaited return to glory.

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