Carlos Sainz has suggested the decision to retain Fred Vasseur as Ferrari’s Formula 1 Team Principal was to shut down the speculation around the Frenchman’s future.
Vasseur was announced earlier on Thursday as having signed a contract extension with the Italian marque, tying him down to a multi-year deal.
The move ends longstanding rumours that Vasseur was set to depart the team, amid the failure to build on the championship challenge it mounted in 2024.
Vasseur had previously blasted the speculation, saying it was harmful and disrespectful to the team personnel.
Chatter about his future had resurfaced from some quarters over the last fortnight, after Christian Horner, who has been commonly linked with a move, was fired by Red Bull.
Sainz said ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix that he was unaware an extension was even necessary, and that the move was to draw a line under the rumours.
“I didn’t even know he needed a renewal or anything,” Sainz told media including Motorsport Week.
“I think, from the outside, it just looks like they want to cancel the noise.
“Like always in Ferrari, there’s so much noise and you almost need to announce that you’re extending or staying for people not to create a rumour.
“It’s always been the case like that over there. But I’m happy for Fred because I’m sure he will keep doing a good job.”
Has Ferrari shut down Horner speculation with Vasseur announcement?
The move may also have been made to dispel any gathering rumours that Ferrari may want to launch a bid for Horner’s services.
Horner had been long-rumoured to have caught the eye of the Ferrari hierarchy, and with the 51-year-old recently axed by Red Bull, whispers had pointed in that direction.
Sainz had previously defended Vasseur when he launched his own furious rant at the Italian media in Canada, saying that there was a lot of “finger-pointing” and “chaos”.
“For me, it’s all about focusing on the process and delivering when it matters,” the Williams driver said at the time.
“But if you ask me, Fred, I have a great relationship with him. In the past, obviously, we went through a tough month where he didn’t want me and signed Lewis [Hamilton], but apart from that, we made peace about it, and I get on well, and I always rated him as a Team Principal and as a person.”
READ MORE – Why sticking with Fred Vasseur could pay dividends for Ferrari
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