Ferrari chairman John Elkann has explained why Fred Vasseur has been retained as the organisation’s Formula 1 team boss, ending previous speculation.
The Frenchman was the subject of intense media scrutiny, particularly in Italy, as the season progressed, and rumours mounted that he was set to be fired by the Scuderia.
Since taking charge at Maranello in 2023, the team has yet to mount a serious title bid, although did narrowly finish as runners-up in last season’s Constructors’ Championship.
Vasseur himself denounced the speculation in an angry rebuke of the partisan media, leading to public backing from both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
But now Vasseur is confirmed on a multi-year deal to remain with the team, Elkann expanded on the reasons why its putting its faith in the former Alfa Romeo boss.
“We’ve really worked well with Fred, and when you work well, it’s important to continue working well,” he said.
“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.
“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.”
Elkann admits to ‘rough season’ for Ferrari
Although Ferrari sits in second place in the Constructors’ Championship again, it is now a whopping 299 points behind runaway leaders McLaren.
Elkann was present at last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, in which Leclerc struggled mid-race to finish fourth after securing pole position.
The Italian-American explained why he was at the race, and emphasised the need to motivate the team to turn things around after the summer break.
“It’s the last race of the first part of the season, so it’s a good moment to be here with the team,” Elkann added.
“It’s a good moment to reflect on what has been a hard start and, more importantly, just put the right foundations forward for the second part of the season, and really make sure that everyone goes energised to have a good break, which is needed, and really come back strong in the Netherlands.”
Elkann was frank in his assessment of the team’s campaign so far, which has yielded that solitary pole and five podiums via Leclerc, and one Sprint win courtesy of Hamilton.
“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 expressed.
“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.
“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.”
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