Ex-F1 managing director criticises Fred Vasseur’s Ferrari management: “Empathy is as important as results”. Giancarlo Minardi has voiced strong criticism of Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur.

Minardi questions Vasseur’s approach at Ferrari

Giancarlo Minardi has criticised Fred Vasseur’s approach at Ferrari and advised the Scuderia’s team principal to focus on learning Italian in order to improve empathy within the team. Speaking to Quotidiano Sportivo, Minardi analysed Ferrari’s current situation and Fred Vasseur’s sporting management, suggesting that the man in charge at Maranello needs a stronger human connection to work more effectively with the entire group.

According to Minardi, managing a Formula 1 team is not only about technical competence and results on track, but also about communication, leadership, and the ability to connect with people on a personal level. In his view, these aspects remain crucial at Ferrari, especially during a period of transition and long-term planning.

Minardi unsure about when Ferrari will win again

Giancarlo Minardi does not mince his words when it comes to Ferrari. When asked when the Prancing Horse will truly return to fighting for victories and championships, his response is direct and uncompromising:

“This is the hundred-gun question. 2026 is a huge unknown for everyone, the regulations will change in a drastic and total way. Nobody has any certainty today, even though you hear many rumours going around. Timeframes are now extremely tight. In just over a month the new cars will already be on track in Barcelona.”

Giancarlo Minardi underlined how the upcoming regulation overhaul represents a major reset for the entire grid, making it impossible to predict which teams will emerge strongest. At the same time, he pointed out that development timelines are already under severe pressure.

On the subject of management and leadership, Giancarlo Minardi urged caution but made it clear that problems should not be ignored:

“In general, I believe that stability in management structures is a value. In a Formula 1 team, a team principal needs at least three or four years to truly leave his mark. I imagine that he has passed on his ideas and his way of working to the group.”

Language and empathy as key issues

The most sensitive point raised by GiancarloMinardi concerns the human and communicative side of Ferrari’s leadership. Speaking again to Quotidiano Sportivo, he stated:

“If I were Fred Vasseur, I would try to finally learn Italian. In a competitive working group, empathy is worth as much as, if not more than, a pay rise. For months he assured that they were working on the SF25 to improve it. Then in autumn he said that already in April they had decided to stop development and focus everything on 2026. It’s a somewhat inconsistent message, isn’t it?”

Minardi’s comments highlight what he sees as a disconnect between messaging and strategy, something that can create confusion inside a team as complex as Ferrari.

Looking ahead to the new era of Formula 1, Giancarlo Minardi also warned that the 2026 regulations will be unforgiving:

“No one will have any excuses. Those who have worked well will be seen immediately, those who have made mistakes will pay straight away.”

With Ferrari preparing for one of the most significant rule changes in the sport’s history, Giancarlo Minardi’s words underline how performance, organisation, and human factors will all be judged very quickly once the new generation of cars hits the track.