Ferrari’s team principal Frederic Vasseur says the “noise” surrounding his position is a “big issue” for the team, admitting that releasing a statement reaffirming Ferrari’s faith in him became “mandatory.”
Vasseur spoke after last weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he said the team were “not working in perfect serenity” amid persistent rumours about his future at the Scuderia. Italian media have speculated over Vasseur’s fate in recent weeks, with links surfacing that Christian Horner might consider joining the team.
“When you see the noise and all the rumours in the press all the week, I think as a team we need to work in serenity, and it was absolutely not the case,” said Vasseur.
He added that the statement was necessary to address the speculation directly. “I think the statement was mandatory to do something, or it would have been the same this weekend.”
The Noise Around Vasseur
Vasseur joined Ferrari as team principal from Sauber in 2023, overseeing the team’s return to race-winning form this year after a poor 2025. But Ferrari’s world championship challenge to Mercedes has faded in recent months amid a five-race run without a podium finish.
The speculation has become personal, according to Vasseur. “Honestly, I knew what I would get on that. I’m not surprised at all, but sometimes the attacks are a bit personal. It’s not good.”
He defended his team publicly. “When we are winning, we are winning as a team, but when we are struggling, I’m there to defend all of them. I think it’s the right attitude from everybody, from them to defend the team principal, from me to defend them when we are struggling.”
Hamilton Defends Vasseur
Lewis Hamilton passionately defended Vasseur ahead of this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, pointing to Ferrari’s structure and whether it needed to be changed. It was unclear whether Hamilton’s comments were about the top end of Ferrari, including chairman John Elkann and chief executive Benedetto Vigna, or people below Vasseur.
Vasseur addressed Hamilton’s comments directly. “The relationship that I have with my bosses, Benedetto and John, is a very good one. We are in daily contact, and I can’t complain at all about the organisation.”
He pushed back on the idea that structure was the problem. “But for sure, you always want to get more, you always want to do more, you always want to recruit more too. But I think it’s true for me and it’s true for everybody on the grid, that you always want to do more because it’s the DNA of what we are doing. But honestly, it has nothing to do with the organisation.”
The Statement That Became Mandatory
Vasseur’s admission that the statement became “mandatory” is the clearest sign yet that the speculation is affecting the team’s performance. He framed the issue as one of stability and focus.
“The big issue that we have today is the stability, the serenity in the team, the focus that we need to have, and not to have this kind of question all the day,” he said.
The statement was designed to cut through the noise, but Vasseur knows it is only a temporary fix. The rumours will continue, and the questions will keep coming.
What Happens Next
Ferrari travel to Malaysia for the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit, where the race runs on Sunday at 8am (build-up from 6.30am) live on Sky Sports F1. Vasseur’s contract extension last season means he is committed to the team beyond this season.
His response so far has been to defend himself and his team publicly, while insisting the organisational structure is sound.
The Personal Attacks
Vasseur acknowledged that some of the criticism feels personal, and he wants a more “friendly media.” He said he was expecting the attention when he took the job.
“When you take the role, the positive and the negative side of the job. I was expecting something like this,” he said.
He also defended the team against critics who single out individuals. “What is sometimes a bit unfair is when you put someone under the bus, and I’m there also to defend my team, my guys.”
The attacks are not good, in his view. “It’s not good,” he said.
Source material: “Vasseur admits 'big issue' with Ferrari distractions,” Sky Sports.
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