Ferrari’s difficult 2026 Formula 1 spell is reportedly being accompanied by growing internal tension at Maranello, with Fréd Vasseur’s leadership, his relationship with Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna and communication inside the racing department all coming under scrutiny. The atmosphere is said to have become increasingly strained as results have deteriorated during Ferrari’s difficult recent run, with performances declining and tensions becoming more visible from the outside — and not always handled effectively.
Within that picture, one of the claims to emerge is that part of the team has nicknamed Fréd Vasseur “Napoleon”, reflecting a perception within that group that his leadership style can be arrogant and dismissive. Reports relayed by familiar paddock figures have also described the former Sauber boss’s management as, at times, highly autocratic, adding another layer to the discussion surrounding Ferrari’s internal turbulence.
Those claims come on top of recent speculation that Lewis Hamilton had pushed for changes to Ferrari’s trackside personnel, with Fréd Vasseur said to have shared some of the seven-time Formula 1 world champion’s dissatisfaction. Lewis Hamilton directly denied that account, but the episode has nevertheless added to the scrutiny surrounding Fréd Vasseur, Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s internal management during a difficult phase of the season.
Ferrari tensions reportedly extend to Fréd Vasseur and Benedetto Vigna
The latest rumours also suggest that Fréd Vasseur’s position inside Ferrari may have weakened further, with his situation already described as far from secure. Beyond the “Napoleon” nickname reportedly used by one faction of the team — a familiar echo of past factional dynamics at Maranello — one of the most discussed claims concerns an almost non-existent working relationship between Fréd Vasseur and Ferrari chief executive Benedetto Vigna.
That distance is said to stem partly from possible incompatibilities between two executives with very different professional backgrounds. Fréd Vasseur built his career by working his way through motorsport and team management, while Benedetto Vigna arrived at Ferrari from outside the racing world and without previous motorsport experience.
However, the reported distance between the two would also be linked primarily to the way Fréd Vasseur manages the Formula 1 team. Since taking charge at Maranello, Fréd Vasseur has reportedly spent limited time at the factory, without a consistent day-to-day presence during the working week. That, in turn, is said to have prevented him from developing a particularly deep or comprehensive familiarity with the team’s everyday realities and internal affairs.
The appointment of Jérôme d’Ambrosio as deputy team principal has been viewed in this context, even though the precise boundaries of that role remain unclear to many observers.
Questions over Fréd Vasseur’s factory presence and Ferrari communication
According to sources close to Scuderia Ferrari, Fréd Vasseur’s limited presence is also being felt inside the Racing Division, where staff in different departments are said to feel increasingly distant from senior management and, in some cases, left to operate largely on their own.
The issue is said to concern not only the absence of senior figures from the daily life of the factory, even for something as simple as greeting staff, but also basic internal communication. Messages from the team’s leading figures are reportedly now delivered only by email. In a period of poor results and growing external pressure, those practices are raising questions about the ability of Fréd Vasseur and his closest allies to guide Ferrari through a particularly difficult period.
No clear Ferrari plan B if Fréd Vasseur situation worsens
The current impasse would appear to require either stronger intervention from above or a change within Ferrari’s Formula 1 leadership structure. The second route, however, is considered difficult because Ferrari is not believed to have a clear alternative ready for Fréd Vasseur.
Antonello Coletta, who leads Ferrari’s Hypercar programme, is reportedly not interested in becoming Formula 1 team principal. A much-discussed return to Maranello for Andrea Stella is also said to have already been rejected by the current McLaren team principal.
The lack of an obvious plan B therefore places Fréd Vasseur in an unusual position. He must manage mounting pressure, reported dissatisfaction within Ferrari’s senior management and the disputed suggestions — already denied — that Lewis Hamilton wants personnel changes inside the team, while the seven-time world champion is becoming an increasingly influential presence within Ferrari.
At a time when Ferrari needs clarity and stability, the central question is whether Fréd Vasseur still has the authority and freedom to act decisively as the team attempts to emerge from one of the most delicate periods of its 2026 Formula 1 campaign.
