Fred Vasseur has stepped in to defend Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton after the latest wave of comments surrounding Ferrari’s recent races. Between John Elkann’s remarks and the words expressed by both Ferrari drivers, the topic of public statements has become a sensitive issue within the team. A complicated championship situation certainly does not help maintain a calm atmosphere, and Vasseur is fully aware of that. Speaking during the Qatar Grand Prix press conference, he openly backed his drivers.
The response from Vasseur to the criticism
The Team Principal of the Maranello squad addressed those who asked whether any internal clarification had been needed. “I think their attitude reflects their determination. I fully understand their frustration about the performance level we’re experiencing at the moment. But their frustration is the same felt by every single person in the garage and on the pit wall. The important thing is to react and use this frustration to get out of this situation. We have to stay focused on the next races and on next year. Honestly, I would be more frustrated if the drivers were happy right now,” Vasseur stated.
“It’s not a drama. I know my drivers, I know what kind of people they are and I’m fully aligned with them. If we think about Brazil, for example, it’s normal that Charles was frustrated given that he was taken out by Oscar Piastri and Kimi Antonelli. It’s part of the DNA of each one of us. So no, there was nothing they needed to apologize for,” the former Alfa Romeo boss added.
Fred Vasseur’s message was clear: passion and frustration are natural when a team with Ferrari’s expectations is fighting well below its potential. Rather than seeing the recent comments as a problem, the team principal views them as proof that Leclerc and Hamilton still care deeply about turning the season around – even if only two weekends now remain.
