Drivers protected amid criticism
Fred Vasseur has addressed Ferrari’s recent struggles in Formula 1, which have made the team an easy target for the press, critics, and fans, especially following some ill-considered comments by team president John Elkann. Two weeks later, the French team principal took stock of the situation, protecting his drivers and essentially taking responsibility for a car that in 2025 has consistently shown issues at every circuit.
Positive and mature driver reactions to Elkann’s comments
The Scuderia’s drivers “forgave” their president. This is a fair summary of their statements ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc spoke kindly of Elkann, emphasizing that frustration is understandable when things don’t work, especially when driving for Ferrari, the most recognized team in the world.
Charles preferred not to comment directly on John Elkann’s words, focusing instead on the future. He framed the situation positively, seeing it as motivation for the team to improve. The same applied to Lewis, who was arguably the main target of the president’s criticism for his repeated feedback, including reports he submitted to Maranello to help the team.
The case was effectively closed before the Las Vegas weekend. Ferrari began strongly with a solid technical base in the SF-25, but a poor qualifying session ultimately destroyed the weekend’s objectives, particularly the chance at a podium. The drivers spoke out again, forcefully, as expected.
Vasseur fully supports Hamilton and Leclerc
Fred acknowledged the persistent issues that have accompanied the Italian car all season. In Nevada, he chose to speak only after evaluating the situation. There were no excuses for the poor qualifying results, which strongly limited Sunday’s potential outcomes. For once, Fred Vasseur did not try to justify anything, focusing entirely on his drivers.
Charles and Lewis, despite the internal challenge dominated by the Monegasque, put in maximum effort to achieve the best possible results for Ferrari. The French team principal explained the communication challenges involved. He noted that, minutes before a race ends, it is never easy to stay composed in front of microphones.
He described it as an “obligation” for drivers to comment on what happened on track, something he personally finds difficult. He emphasized that he prefers drivers to always tell the truth, even if it is uncomfortable. It is better to show genuine frustration when things go wrong than to search for a positive side that simply doesn’t exist.
This honest and commendable stance from the French manager suggests that, after years in Maranello, he has come to understand the importance of transparency when discussing performance. Whether the results are good or bad does not matter as much as acknowledging reality to avoid being unfairly targeted by criticism.
Vasseur explains Elkann’s outburst: the fault lies with the Ferrari project
Fred also addressed those who continue to show him trust, despite results falling far short of expectations. The 2025 Formula 1 season was supposed to be spectacular, yet after 22 races, Ferrari has never reached the top step of the podium. Fred Vasseur even defended the president, taking responsibility for poor performances while excluding the drivers from blame.
Was John Elkann’s message directed at the Ferrari management? According to Fred Vasseur, it seems so, and it is hard to disagree. One clear takeaway from this season is that Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are not responsible for the SF-25’s frequent underperformance. The issues are technical, as the French team principal makes clear. Well done…
A rare moment of full accountability from a Ferrari team principal, and one that finally draws a line under weeks of speculation about driver blame. For Fred Vasseur, the only way forward is simple: fix the car for 2026, because the drivers are already doing their part.
