Vasseur denounces Italian speculation: « It really hurts the team »

Fred Vasseur, the director of Ferrari, responded firmly to recent Italian press rumors about his future with the Scuderia. While speculations suggested his possible replacement along with some of his collaborators after a mixed start to the 2025 season, the Frenchman called these discussions disrespectful to his team.

A challenging sports context fueling rumors

Ferrari currently holds the second place in the Constructors’ Championship but is significantly trailing by 197 points behind McLaren after nine races. The team hasn’t won any Grand Prix this season, with only a sprint race victory for Lewis Hamilton in China and three podiums for Charles Leclerc. This outcome contrasts with the high expectations following the arrival of the seven-time British world champion.

These disappointing results have led to articles this week in the Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere della Sera, questioning Vasseur’s position after the Scuderia’s difficult start to the season. The rumors are not just about him: engineer Loïc Serra, who arrived from Mercedes this winter, is also the subject of speculation.

Vasseur defends his teams

« It’s not about me, I can handle that. It’s more about the team members », Vasseur said at a press conference on Friday in Montreal. For the Frenchman, who joined Ferrari at the beginning of 2023, this situation goes beyond acceptable limits: « Throwing their names out like that, I think it’s just disrespectful – to them, to their family. »

The team director particularly criticized the often destructive consequences of persistent rumors. Indeed, these speculations directly affect the morale and professional stability of his collaborators, generating genuine distress among those targeted: “When a journalist says that Ferrari is going to recruit someone for a certain position, there is someone in that position and on Sunday night, the guy thinks ‘OK, tomorrow morning, I won’t have a job if what’s in the newspaper is true, someone else will be in my place,'” he pointed out.

Vasseur is not just defending Ferrari. He directly calls out journalists on their responsibility: « These journalists – I’m not lumping everyone together – but they must consider that these people, they have families, they have wives, they have children. And it’s completely disrespectful. », emphasizing the human impact these rumors can have. This defense is also explained by the concrete repercussions of these rumors on the team.

Direct consequences on performance

Beyond the personal aspect, Vasseur points out the sporting consequences of these controversies. “It really hurts the team. At some point, it’s a lack of concentration, and when you’re fighting for the championship, every detail makes a difference. And since the beginning of the weekend, we’re only talking about that,” he explains.

The French team director does not mince his words regarding the impact of this media strategy: « If their goal is to put the team in this situation, they have achieved their aim. But I think that’s really not how we can win a championship. And at least not with this kind of journalist around us. », he lamented.

Indeed, for Vasseur, the motivations of certain media remain unclear: « I don’t understand the goal. Maybe it’s to annoy the team, but in that case, I don’t see the point. Maybe for them, it’s the only way to exist. That’s probably more the reason. ».

However, he does not attempt to downplay his team’s current challenges and openly acknowledges the shortcomings: « We have not done a good job on our part. We did not do a good job in the first two races. We had a disqualification in China. », he stated candidly.

Unity Despite Turbulence

Despite this tense context, the Frenchman assures that the atmosphere remains good within the team. “Now, with Lewis and Charles, I think we have a good relationship with everyone. We have a clear objective. We know we must work. We know we must push. But the atmosphere within the team is very good, and that is the foundation if you want to recover and win.”

Lewis Hamilton supported Vasseur during the drivers’ press conference on Thursday, calling the rumors about his team nonsense. The British driver, who had worked with the Frenchman in GP2 in 2006, expressed his confidence in his team director: “I’m here to win with Fred and he has all my support. I want Fred here. I truly believe Fred is the person to take us to the top.”

Charles Leclerc, who has a long-term contract with Ferrari, has also supported him and reaffirmed his commitment to the team despite ongoing speculation about his future. The chemistry between the three men seems strong, even if sporting results are slow to follow.