Ferrari Solidify Second in F1 Standings, but Fred Vasseur’s 2025 Title Hopes Appear Faded
Ferrari reinforced their hold on second place in the 2025 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship following a strong performance at the Belgian Grand Prix. However, the Italian team has fallen short of the ambitious goals set out by Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur at the beginning of the season.
At the start of the 2025 campaign, Frédéric Vasseur had expressed confidence that Ferrari could finally end their long-standing title drought. The Scuderia has not claimed a Drivers’ Championship since Kimi Räikkönen’s triumph in 2007, nor a Constructors’ Championship since 2008. But with the season now past its midpoint, those aspirations already appear out of reach, despite Ferrari’s consistent presence near the front of the pack.
Following round 13 of 24 at Spa-Francorchamps, Ferrari sit firmly in second place in the Constructors’ standings. However, the gap to championship leaders McLaren is a daunting 268 points. In the Drivers’ standings, Oscar Piastri has extended his lead substantially, holding a 128-point advantage over Charles Leclerc, who currently sits fifth, and a 157-point gap to Lewis Hamilton in sixth place.
Charles Leclerc secured a third-place finish at Spa, earning his and Ferrari’s fifth podium of the season. The result also allowed the Maranello-based team to widen their advantage over Mercedes by an additional 16 points in the battle for runner-up honours. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton managed to climb from a pit lane start to a seventh-place finish, having qualified a disappointing P16.
Despite this relative success, Ferrari’s focus remains on winning championships — and not just fighting for second place. Earlier in the season, as it became increasingly clear that title contention was slipping away, speculation surrounding Vasseur’s position intensified. Reports surfaced ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix in June suggesting the Frenchman had just three races to prove himself or risk losing his role. He has since weathered that storm and appears to have retained the trust of Ferrari’s leadership.
According to Motorsport.com, internal discussions at Maranello marked a key turning point for Fred Vasseur’s future. The report indicates that Ferrari are now preparing to renew his contract, which is set to expire at the end of the current season. While no official statement has yet been made regarding the deal, sources claim the French manager will continue in his role through at least the 2026 Formula 1 season.
The decision to retain Fred Vasseur reflects Ferrari’s desire for continuity ahead of the sweeping regulation changes scheduled for 2026. Team executives reportedly believe that avoiding disruption in the leadership structure is critical as Formula 1 prepares for its next technical era. Consequently, while the precise terms of Fred Vasseur’s new deal remain undisclosed, Ferrari appear intent on keeping him at the helm for the foreseeable future.
What remains uncertain, however, is the length of the former Alfa Romeo team principal’s upcoming contract. Ferrari has deliberately chosen not to reveal this detail publicly, a move that has been welcomed by both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The two drivers have consistently supported the 57-year-old Frenchman, even during periods when his leadership was under scrutiny. Fred Vasseur also played a central role in securing Hamilton’s high-profile move from Mercedes to Ferrari for the 2025 season, further cementing the strong relationship between them.
Still, despite the current show of confidence, the pressure on Fred Vasseur is far from over. Ferrari’s failure to secure a Grand Prix victory over the past 17 races has reportedly led to discontent behind closed doors. Sources suggest that the team’s senior management has even used the Italian media to express their dissatisfaction with recent results.
Looking ahead, the team principal’s future may again come under the spotlight depending on how Ferrari perform under the new 2026 regulations. That season will be particularly significant, as it will mark the debut of a car fully developed under technical director Loïc Serra’s leadership — the first since his arrival in September 2024.
If Ferrari fail to deliver a competitive package in 2026, questions about Fred Vasseur’s leadership could resurface, regardless of the new contract currently being finalized. For now, however, the Frenchman seems to have regained the support of Ferrari’s top brass, but long-term security will depend heavily on results in the next development cycle.
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