Fred Vasseur’s role as team principal of Ferrari was officially extended with a multi-year contract just before the Formula 1 summer break, ensuring that the Frenchman will continue to lead the iconic and historic Italian team into the new era of regulations set to begin next season, which many in the paddock see as a critical turning point for the entire sport.
Vasseur had a significant and influential role in persuading seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 campaign. Conversely, Lewis Hamilton himself played an important part in Ferrari’s decision to renew Fred Vasseur’s contract beyond the current season. This happened despite ongoing speculation and widespread media reports linking Christian Horner—who is known to be John Elkann’s former preferred candidate and the ex-Red Bull Racing team principal—to the Ferrari team principal position. The Scuderia ultimately decided to maintain continuity and stability by retaining Fred Vasseur. This continuity was seen as crucial during a period of major changes in Formula 1, particularly with the new technical regulations scheduled to take effect in the 2026 season.
However, Ferrari is reportedly preparing for a possible driver lineup change in the near future. Young British driver Oliver Bearman has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Lewis Hamilton if the seven-time world champion decides to retire at the end of his challenging debut season with Ferrari.
According to respected Formula 1 journalist Joe Saward’s latest edition of his Green Notebook column, Ferrari may have been essentially compelled to extend Fred Vasseur’s contract simply because ‘no one else’ was willing or interested in taking on the demanding team principal position at the prestigious and historic Scuderia Ferrari. Saward highlights a clear lack of enthusiasm from Ferrari’s upper management and leadership to keep Fred Vasseur, pointing specifically to a ‘lack of support’ from senior figures within the organization over recent months.
Lewis Hamilton’s backing and support were crucial factors in securing Fred Vasseur’s contract renewal, but Joe Saward also observed something ‘interesting’ in how some of Ferrari’s Formula 1 rivals publicly expressed support for Vasseur’s continuation in the role. Saward questions whether this support genuinely reflected confidence and belief in Fred Vasseur’s leadership qualities, or if rival teams encouraged Ferrari to retain him, hoping the Italian team would continue to struggle and underperform under his management.
Following the announcement of Fred Vasseur’s contract extension, well-known Formula 1 commentator David Croft shared his doubts and skepticism about whether Fred Vasseur would be able to deliver the level of success that Ferrari desperately needs. Croft’s skepticism was influenced by insider reports about Ferrari’s plans and preparations for the next season, which did not inspire confidence in a swift and meaningful turnaround.
Ferrari’s challenges during the 2025 Formula 1 season can be traced back primarily to ongoing and persistent difficulties with their SF-25 car. Since pre-season testing began, the team has struggled with rear axle stability issues, which have plagued both their lead driver Charles Leclerc and their new signing, seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton, throughout the entire campaign. Despite Ferrari bringing forward a series of upgrades that were specifically intended to resolve this rear axle problem, the performance gains have been limited and disappointing, as reflected by poor and inconsistent race results in recent rounds.
To help Lewis Hamilton better adapt to the upgrades, Ferrari made very specific and tailored changes to the dampers on his car, attempting to optimize performance and handling characteristics to better suit the driving style of the experienced seven-time world champion. Yet, despite these efforts, the team was left puzzled and somewhat frustrated after a poor performance at the Belgian Grand Prix, where both drivers experienced unusually poor handling and balance issues. This raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the upgrades and the overall development direction of the SF-25.
Although Ferrari currently holds second place in the constructors’ championship, they have rarely demonstrated consistent superiority as the clear second-best team on the grid this season. Mercedes, led by drivers George Russell and the young talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli, sits just 24 points behind Ferrari. With the German manufacturer expected to improve their reliability and consistency—especially from the promising rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli—the battle for the runner-up position in the constructors’ standings could intensify significantly as the 2025 Formula 1 season progresses toward its conclusion.
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