Fred Vasseur Under Intense Scrutiny at Ferrari as Performance Disappoints and Contract Nears Expiry
Ferraru team boss Frederic Vasseur is facing mounting pressure at the Italian side as senior management at the Italian team grows increasingly frustrated with the Scuderia’s underwhelming results in the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Ferrari entered the year with one clear ambition: to capture both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships after narrowly missing out to McLaren by just 14 points in 2024. The re-signing of Charles Leclerc and the high-profile arrival of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton raised expectations sky-high. However, halfway through the season, Ferrari’s campaign is faltering. Though they remain second in the constructors’ standings, the performance gap to McLaren suggests that a winless season is a very real possibility.
Zak Brown’s McLaren outfit has built an astonishing 197-point lead ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix. While Vasseur has pointed to Ferrari’s progress in overtaking Red Bull and Mercedes in the pecking order, those two rivals have been handicapped by inconsistent driver pairings and technical reliability issues. Ferrari’s own title hopes, by contrast, are being eroded by strategic errors, poor race execution, and stalled car development.
Leclerc, currently sitting fourth in the Drivers’ Championship with less than half the points of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, is reportedly reassessing his long-term future at Maranello. Meanwhile, the Hamilton partnership has failed to yield results, leaving fans and analysts alike questioning what has gone wrong, with no convincing answers from either side.
Ferrari’s Leadership Frustrated by Vasseur’s Refusal to Accelerate Development
At the beginning of 2025, Fred Vasseur enjoyed widespread support within Ferrari. Optimism around the team’s prospects reached levels not seen since their 2008 constructors’ title. Many credited the French manager with stabilizing the team in 2023 and 2024, but as Ferrari’s performance regresses, some voices within the paddock are now blaming him for the rapid downturn.
Reports from Motorsport Italia indicate that Fred Vasseur’s current contract expires at the end of the season, and no discussions have taken place regarding a renewal. This uncertainty is said to be contributing to growing instability within Ferrari’s technical and management departments.
One key source of tension stems from Fred Vasseur’s decision to ignore a directive from Ferrari’s upper management to fast-track upgrades following the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. He instead opted to stick with the original development schedule, expecting that new FIA front wing regulations introduced in Spain would improve Ferrari’s competitiveness. However, no significant performance gains were observed, and the team is not expected to bring any major updates to Montreal. Instead, the next significant change—a revised rear suspension—is only due to debut at Silverstone.
Missed Opportunities Could Haunt Ferrari in 2026 Regulation Era
Looking ahead to 2026, many insiders predict Mercedes will be the frontrunner under the incoming regulations. For Lewis Hamilton, who joined Ferrari in hopes of recapturing championship glory, the timing could not be worse. As the new rules loom, his window to add an eighth title may be closing.
Ferrari’s best opportunity to mount a challenge seemed to rest on securing legendary designer Adrian Newey, but Aston Martin ultimately won that race. The Maranello squad is now dealing with the fallout of that missed opportunity, and doubts are surfacing over whether technical director Loïc Serra, who joined from Mercedes in late 2024, can rise to the challenge.
Adding to the internal pressure, Ferrari chairman John Elkann has been determined to lure Christian Horner away from Red Bull Racing. Yet despite John Elkann’s persistent interest, Horner has remained unreceptive. Should Ferrari part ways with Fred Vasseur at the end of the season, promoting from within may become the only viable path forward.
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