Fred Vasseur hits back at Charles Leclerc’s wet-weather criticism: “It hasn’t always been true”

Fred Vasseur hits back at Charles Leclerc’s wet-weather criticism: “It hasn’t always been true”. Fred Vasseur addresses Charles Leclerc’s recent comments about Ferrari’s performance in wet conditions.

Fred Vasseur addresses Leclerc’s frustrations with Ferrari’s recent wet-weather performance

After qualifying at the Las Vegas GP, Charles Leclerc expressed his frustration over the difficulties of driving the Ferrari in rainy conditions. The Monegasque claimed that this issue has persisted since his arrival at Maranello, but Team Principal Fred Vasseur disagrees with the #16 driver’s assessment.

Charles Leclerc stated that he had never fully found the right feeling in wet conditions over his seven years at Ferrari. His comments following a ninth-place qualifying position reflected his disappointment after a challenging session. Wet-weather driving is considered one of Charles Leclerc’s strengths, but in Formula 1, the results have not consistently reflected that, and he does not place the blame on himself.

Fred Vasseur’s response

Speaking to the media after the Las Vegas GP, Fred Vasseur addressed Charles Leclerc’s claims regarding a Ferrari problem: “I won’t go into details, but it hasn’t always been the case,” said the Ferrari Team Principal in reference to the recent underperformance in wet conditions. “It’s more a matter of grip.”

“If we look at FP3, we were in first place on intermediate tires with Lewis,” he added, as reported by MotorsportWeek. “In certain low-grip conditions, we struggle more.” – the French manager pointed out. Over the past few years, there have been several occasions where rain has not favored Ferrari, though in many instances, incorrect tire choices also contributed to the car’s difficulties.

Looking ahead to the 2026 car

Charles Leclerc’s statements suggested a lack of confidence in solving this issue for the next season. Fred Vasseur clarified the matter: “I’m sure he didn’t imply there would be a direct correlation between 2026 and 2025.”

Next year’s car will be a completely new design, with no shared components with the current model. Still, Fred Vasseur admitted that the current car is not optimal in conditions that require intermediate tires. The main challenge often lies in finding the correct grip and maintaining the tires within the ideal temperature window.

With these clarifications, Ferrari hopes to reassure both Charles Leclerc and the team that wet-weather challenges are being addressed and will be tackled more effectively in the future.

As Ferrari fights to salvage pride and Constructors’ points in the final two rounds, the wet-weather debate has added another layer of tension inside the Maranello garage.