Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has reflected on the mixed emotions following his team’s qualifying performance at the 2025 United States Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc secured third place, while Lewis Hamilton finished fifth, marking the Scuderia’s strongest session since the summer break.
The performance in Austin represented a notable improvement for Ferrari, with both cars finishing inside the top five in the Sprint race on Saturday. This contrasted sharply with Friday’s challenging qualifying session, where Hamilton struggled to eighth and Charles Leclerc ended up 10th. Ferrari has experienced a decline in overall competitiveness this season, dropping to fourth in the team standings behind Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren.
Prior to Austin, Ferrari had earmarked Azerbaijan and Singapore as prime opportunities to end their 2025 Grand Prix victory drought. However, on both weekends, the team failed to capitalize, leaving them still searching for their first win of the season.
Vasseur acknowledges stopping 2025 development had unforeseen effects
Speaking to Canal+, Fred Vasseur admitted that Ferrari are currently navigating a “frustrating” period, and the emotional toll on the staff had been significant. Observers, including former racing driver Danica Patrick, noted that both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc appeared deflated after Friday qualifying, highlighting the team’s struggle to maintain morale.
Fred Vasseur explained that he had decided to halt major development on the 2025 car very early in the season, prioritizing preparation for the transformative 2026 technical regulations. While Ferrari introduced several updates before the summer break, including a notable rear suspension package at the Belgian Grand Prix, these changes had limited impact on performance. Most of the developments deployed in July had been designed and commissioned months in advance, while rivals Mercedes and Red Bull continued aggressive upgrades throughout the season.
The early cessation of 2025 development, according to Fred Vasseur, has created an unintended psychological burden on the team. Despite focusing on the future, staff have endured a long period without tangible performance gains, which has affected confidence and motivation.
Fred Vasseur described his own feelings as “satisfied and frustrated” simultaneously. He acknowledged that although Austin’s results were a positive step forward, the team could have performed better earlier in the season. He emphasised that running 17 races without a substantial performance boost had taken a mental toll on the staff. Nonetheless, the strong showing in the United States provided a much-needed morale boost ahead of the final six races of 2025.
Implications for Christian Horner and Ferrari leadership speculation
The post-qualifying period at Austin also reignited speculation regarding Ferrari leadership. Ferrari chairman John Elkann publicly reaffirmed his support for Fred Vasseur, countering rumors linking Christian Horner to the Scuderia. Horner, recently departing Red Bull after two decades of success, has been approached by various teams but has reportedly expressed no desire to take on a traditional team principal role at Ferrari. Sources suggest he would prefer a senior executive position akin to a chief executive, rather than direct team management.
Charles Leclerc commented on the pervasive rumors surrounding Ferrari, noting that questions are not limited to the team principal position but extend to his own future beyond 2026. The ongoing speculation adds another layer of pressure, both for the drivers and the engineering team, as they attempt to close the gap to the front runners while managing internal stability.
Looking ahead: balancing short-term performance with long-term strategy
While the French manager acknowledges the short-term difficulties, he remains confident that the strategic focus on 2026 regulations will pay dividends in the coming season. The challenge remains to maintain staff motivation and extract strong results from the current car in the remaining 2025 races. Leclerc and Hamilton’s strong starting positions in Austin provide a chance to regain momentum, but Ferrari will need to manage race strategy carefully to convert qualifying potential into points.
Ultimately, Fred Vasseur’s candid reflections underline the complexities of managing a top Formula 1 team during a transitional season. Balancing immediate performance expectations with preparation for a radically different technical era is a delicate task, one that will define Ferrari’s trajectory well into 2026.
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