Fred Vasseur embraces the Tifosi
Emotion and realism—these two words best describe Frederic Vasseur as he took the stage in Piazza Castello, effectively introducing Ferrari’s 2025 season, his third as team principal of the Scuderia.
Between the lines, the Frenchman acknowledged what had already been reported earlier in the day: Ferrari is not starting as the favorite and will need to mitigate McLaren’s early superiority, as seen in testing.
Fred Vasseur’s comments
“We know that at the start of the season, there will be ups and downs—we’ll have good weekends and more difficult ones. I believe the most important thing will be to manage the tougher moments well,” said the Frenchman. “Every season at the end of a regulation cycle is very complex, and there will certainly be fluctuations, just like last year. I think there are four teams capable of winning races, and that’s great for F1 and the spectacle. The key factor will be handling the difficult moments properly because the battle will be so close that performance could be influenced by factors like the track or tire conditions. Last year, we did a good job, but not a great one—we finished second. We had a tough stretch between June and July, and that probably cost us the championship.” – the French manager pointed out.
Fred Vasseur, who spoke before Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc took the stage, also addressed Ferrari’s 2025 driver lineup: “The overall performance of the team comes from many pillars, but in the end, the drivers are quite important. It’s not just about speed on track and raw performance, but also about motivation, the work they do at the factory, and the positive competitive spirit they create. With Lewis and Charles, we believe we can do great work. This will certainly bring fresh energy and a level of pressure that can be turned into something positive. We have to manage it properly—it’s part of the DNA of our sport. And it’s much better to have positive pressure than none at all, because that would mean you’re behind. But trust me, there’s a very positive atmosphere within the team, and that’s great for everyone—for the team, for the fans—and I’m very happy to be in this situation.” – the Ferrari team principal concluded.
