Fred Vasseur: “When Charles Leclerc is tough on the team, it’s always to help”

Fred Vasseur: “When Charles Leclerc is tough on the team, it’s always to help”. Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur explains the dynamics between drivers and engineers.

Charles Leclerc, Fred Vasseur, Ferrari 2025

Ferrari is navigating a delicate period this season. With zero wins so far and few elements to be optimistic about in the final six races, the Scuderia faces challenges unlike the previous year. Twelve months ago, Ferrari traveled to the Americas aiming for a double victory in Austin and another win in Mexico. This year, the team’s expectations are completely different, given the SF-25, which Charles Leclerc rightly described as currently the fourth-strongest car on the grid, behind McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull.

In the Constructors’ Championship, Ferrari remains in third place. However, even with Max Verstappen alone, Red Bull could overtake them in the season finale if the trend seen in Singapore continues.

At Marina Bay, a disappointed Charles Leclerc emphasized after qualifying that the weekend had started with positive prospects. Unfortunately, forced setup changes from FP2 onward made the weekend more challenging. Leclerc described the SF-25 as “very difficult” to drive. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton seems closer to Leclerc in terms of performance over recent races, and Austin will serve as an important test for the internal battle between Leclerc and Hamilton.

Fred Vasseur on the relationship between drivers and engineers

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur, in an interview with The Athletic, described the relationship between him and the drivers, and between the drivers and the engineers at Maranello. “Leclerc has a perfect understanding of the team,” Fred Vasseur said. “Sometimes we don’t even need to speak; we both know exactly what the other is thinking. We have complete trust in each other. I know that when he is tough on the team, he is always doing it to help. This attitude is constructive and goes in the right direction to try and build something.”

Regarding Lewis Hamilton, Fred Vasseur added: “Lewis arrived with great motivation and enthusiasm. At the start, everything was fantastic. Then came a moment when he needed to ‘calm down,’ realizing that Mercedes is stronger in certain areas, just as Ferrari is better in others. From Barcelona onwards, he has returned ‘focused.’ He is improving his integration with the team, and the team is improving its integration with Lewis. Now we have to make it all work together. I know I can trust him, and he knows he can trust me, and that’s important. He knows I will dedicate myself completely to the team’s performance.”