Fred Vasseur may be under intense media scrutiny regarding his future with Ferrari, but a fellow Formula 1 Team Principal has offered his support.
The Frenchman has faced speculation about the security of his position at the Maranello-based squad for sporadic periods spanning over a year, having recently reared its again once again.
So much so, that the Scuderia was forced to put out a short statement giving Vasseur its full backing, amid recent comments made by Christian Horner that running the team would be a “dream”.
Vasseur was one of three bosses on media duty at Sepang on Friday morning, ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, with questions natrually edging towards his future.
When asked why Ferrari felt the need to issue the statement in the first place, Vasseur cited retention of “serenity” within the Ferrari ranks as a key motive.
“I think this you have to ask your colleagues,” Vasseur told media, including Motorsport Week.
“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.
“I think the statement was mandatory to do something, or it would have been the same this weekend.
“But honestly, the big issue that we have today is the stability, the serenity into the team, the focus that we need to have, and not to have this kind of question all the day.”
Vowles: ‘No question’ Vasseur the right man to lead Ferrari
At this point, Williams boss James Vowles politely stepped in, and promulgated his own personal support of Vasseur.
“I’m just going to add to that,” he said. “Normally we beat each other up and put knives in our backs, but Ferrari is in the best place it’s been in the championship for a while.
“They have innovation on the car this year with a rear wing and exhaust blowing that we’ve all copied as a result of it. It’s a team that’s doing brilliantly.
“So, I mean, for me personally, there is no question that Fred is the right person to do this.”
Vasseur thanked Vowles for his words, with the third team representative, Flavio Briatore, offered the comic relief.
“You’re the right lawyer,” the Alpine executive advisor joked.
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