Günther Steiner analyses Ferrari’s crisis and the pressure on Fred Vasseur, identifying one of the reasons why they are not at McLaren’s level
Overtime for the stewards? Maybe, but this time it’s the commentators’ turn. Former Haas team principal Günther Steiner appeared on the The Red Flags podcast and offered a blunt and sharp analysis of Ferrari’s current situation in F1, pointing the finger at cultural and organizational dynamics that, according to him, hinder the team’s growth, keep them far from McLaren’s level, and put Fred Vasseur under increasing pressure.
According to Günther Steiner, the current Maranello team principal could be the next scapegoat in a story that keeps repeating itself: “If we look at the history, I’d say yes. He’s under pressure. When the news came out, Ferrari was still second in the championship. It’s not great, but it’s not a disaster either,” Günther Steiner said in the podcast.
When the hosts jokingly asked if he would accept an offer to lead Ferrari, Günther Steiner replied sarcastically: “Five million isn’t enough. Look at what Fred is going through. Why should I?”
What does McLaren have that Ferrari currently can’t?
Speaking about the comparison with McLaren, Steiner praised the work done in Woking: “McLaren has worked methodically. Zak changed people respectfully, without unnecessary pressure. He built a solid foundation. Ferrari instead lives under constant pressure. That doesn’t help growth.”
The problem for Günther Steiner isn’t the factory, but the system. “The Ferrari factory is modern. The issue isn’t there. They just need that small step in quality, and a bit of luck.”
Another critical point he raised concerns the difficulty of attracting elite technical staff to Maranello: “It’s not easy to move talent to Italy. With the budget cap, you can’t offer crazy salaries. And if someone has a family, it’s not easy to say ‘I’ll move’.”
The result? According to Günther Steiner, no one wants to go to Maranello anymore, and without the right people, it’s impossible to build a winning team. There’s no magic wand—only hard work, consistency, and a strong company culture. “It takes work, consistency, the right people. And why should someone leave a good team to come to a place where after three years they might get fired?”
Günther Steiner’s message is clear: Fred Vasseur is under siege, not due to a lack of competence, but because of a sporting culture that needs structural reforms. And the risk is that, once again, the team principal becomes the scapegoat to cover much deeper issues.
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