Charles Leclerc has strongly defended Fred Vasseur amid weeks of speculation over Ferrari’s leadership, revealing that he removed social media from his phone to distance himself from what he described as stupid and disrespectful rumours. Ferrari has endured a disappointing sequence of races since the summer break, with McLaren and Red Bull too often finishing ahead of the Maranello team and Mercedes remaining the benchmark.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have both expressed frustration with Ferrari’s recent performance, while the pressure surrounding Fred Vasseur has intensified. Christian Horner also entered the discussion, adding another layer to the speculation over who could potentially lead Ferrari. However, the team principal remains in charge and continues to have the support of both drivers.
The wider debate around Ferrari’s leadership has become one of the major off-track themes surrounding the team, with further context available in our coverage of what Christian Horner at Ferrari could mean for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Ferrari shuts down Fred Vasseur rumours
The 2026 season was supposed to provide Ferrari with a major opportunity, although it quickly became apparent that Mercedes was the clear favourite. Even so, the Scuderia enjoyed some particularly strong moments during the spring and the first part of the summer, winning two Grands Prix, one with each driver.
A genuine World Championship challenge never really developed, but Ferrari had begun to believe it could fight near the front at every race weekend. The situation then deteriorated gradually. The upgrades failed to deliver the expected results, while the power unit was also unable to provide the help the team needed. Lewis Hamilton has repeatedly referred to the missing tenths that Ferrari still needs to find.
As the results declined, Fred Vasseur came under increasing scrutiny. Rumours grew that he could leave at the end of the season, or even earlier, while several possible successors and interim solutions were discussed.
That scenario is now being ruled out. Fred Vasseur is staying in his position and is set to remain Ferrari team principal in 2027, after which the situation will be reassessed. The speculation nevertheless created uncertainty around the team and raised doubts about its stability before Ferrari’s ownership moved to shut down the discussion.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both showed their support for Fred Vasseur in Malaysia, and that backing does not appear to be merely superficial. The three have developed a strong working relationship, even though disagreements and internal discussions are naturally part of life inside a Formula 1 team. Charles Leclerc’s latest comments can also be followed alongside his wider Ferrari interviews and updates in our Charles Leclerc news section.
Charles Leclerc strongly defends Fred Vasseur
While Lewis Hamilton did not go into extensive detail, Charles Leclerc was far more explicit about the situation and his relationship with Fred Vasseur.
“My support for Fred Vasseur is clear. Regarding the expression ‘there is no smoke without fire’, I think it is true that most of the time there is some truth behind it. But honestly, I think there is simply too much smoke without any fire,” Charles Leclerc said.
From the Monegasque driver’s perspective, Fred Vasseur’s position was therefore never genuinely in doubt. His comments were also a direct response to the growing speculation that had surrounded Ferrari during a difficult phase of the season.
Charles Leclerc removes social media from his phone
Ferrari has arrived in Malaysia looking for a response after its recent run of disappointing results, and the same objective applies to both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Away from the track, however, the younger Ferrari driver has taken an additional step to distance himself from the negativity surrounding the team.
Charles Leclerc revealed that he had removed social media applications from his phone because he no longer wanted to follow much of the discussion surrounding Ferrari.
“I removed social media from my smartphone, so I don’t see much of what is happening. Obviously, you hear people talking. This is not good for the serenity of the team. I find all those rumours disrespectful and stupid. Criticism has to be accepted, but certain things do not. Some rumours become disrespectful,” Charles Leclerc explained.
The comments underline how strongly the ongoing speculation has affected the atmosphere around Ferrari. For Charles Leclerc, legitimate criticism remains part of Formula 1, but the latest wave of rumours surrounding Fred Vasseur has gone beyond what he considers acceptable.
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