Fred Vasseur reportedly frustrated by claims Ferrari considered replacing trusted team member. Ferrari’s 2025 F1 campaign has fallen short of expectations despite Lewis Hamilton’s arrival.

Ferrari entered the 2025 Formula 1 campaign with high expectations following the high-profile signing of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes. However, the results so far have fallen short of what the Italian outfit had envisioned.

Despite sitting third in the Constructors’ Championship, the Maranello team’s performance has unfortunately been underwhelming. Neither Charles Leclerc nor Lewis Hamilton has managed to break into the top three in the Drivers’ standings. Between them, they’ve secured just three podium finishes and are yet to record a single Grand Prix win—an outcome that starkly contrasts with their 2024 campaign, where Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz combined for at least two victories.

Speculation surrounding team principal Fred Vasseur’s future intensified during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, with Italian media outlets suggesting he had just three races to prove himself. Fred Vasseur, however, reportedly brushed off the rumours and called for more restraint in media speculation.

One particular claim that surfaced in the press was said to have especially frustrated the Ferrari boss. According to The Sunday Times, Fred Vasseur was ‘irked’ by a report that implied the team was considering a controversial move involving a Red Bull staff member.

The French manager reportedly frustrated by Ferrari rumours involving Red Bull aerodynamicist Enrico Balbo
Amid the team’s ongoing struggle with the SF-25’s setup, reports emerged suggesting Ferrari were actively pursuing new engineering talent from rival teams. Among them was Red Bull’s principal aerodynamicist, Enrico Balbo. The rumour hinted that Ferrari could be planning to replace Diego Tondi, their current head of aerodynamics—a claim that reportedly irritated the former Alfa Romeo boss..

The SF-25 has presented significant challenges since the season opener, made worse by the disqualifications of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the Chinese Grand Prix for plank wear violations. Rear suspension changes are now on the way in an effort to resolve core setup issues and to better accommodate Lewis Hamilton’s driving style. Yet, the gap to the front-runners has already become substantial.

Hamilton and Leclerc banking on key Ferrari upgrades to change course
The Briton is reportedly placing high hopes on the upcoming rear suspension upgrade, which is set to debut at the Austrian Grand Prix. Ferrari insiders acknowledge that further car development could be the only way to extract meaningful performance from the SF-25 in its current form.

The car has proven extremely sensitive to Pirelli’s tyre window—a factor that continues to plague Hamilton, especially in qualifying. Ferrari’s engineers and technicians believe that the suspension changes could improve rear-end predictability, a major factor in helping Hamilton find confidence in the car.

Despite this, there remains internal concern that even with the planned updates, the improvements may not deliver the level of competitiveness Hamilton believes is necessary for Ferrari to return to winning ways. The next few races could prove crucial in determining the direction of the team’s 2025 campaign.