Never more than in 2025 have relations between Frederic Vasseur and the media — especially the Italian press — become so tense. The Ferrari team principal has repeatedly criticised the attitude of certain outlets, accusing them of exposing team members to unnecessary pressure and fuelling speculation about possible internal replacements.
Even during the opening 2026 F1 test in Bahrain, the atmosphere was no calmer. Fred Vasseur complained about the number of questions he received regarding Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer, a position left vacant after Riccardo Adami stepped down in January. In an interview with Auto Hebdo, the French manager returned to the topic with very clear words.
“In Italy everything is amplified. Both the positive and the negative. You constantly have to calm the positive euphoria as well as the negativity.” According to Vasseur, the environment surrounding Ferrari is unique in the world of Formula 1 and requires a specific kind of management. “I’m only trying to protect the people in the team, but that’s my job. And I knew it when I signed.”
Ferrari, Fred Vasseur once again targets the Italian press
In his view, the real issue is the energy that gets dispersed around the team. “There is a particular enthusiasm surrounding the team that means you can quickly lose your direction and people end up spending too much energy on this. I have to protect people from these waves.”
The team principal then addressed directly the recurring rumours and speculation. “You have to separate rumours from reality. In Italy you could even have a 15-year contract, but what will never change is the attitude of the press.”
For Fred Vasseur, what truly matters is his relationship with Ferrari’s ownership and management. “What counts is the relationship I have with Ferrari. When these rumours impact the team and our employees, it is harmful and it bothers me.”
His strongest remarks, however, were reserved for those working behind the scenes. “As far as I’m concerned, I know exactly where I stand with the management. But when people start talking about those who work in the shadows, I find that a lack of respect.”
Fred Vasseur’s words capture a delicate balance. On one side, the enormous media exposure that inevitably surrounds Ferrari; on the other, the need to maintain internal stability at a crucial technical moment. The 2026 season has only just begun, yet the climate around Maranello is already intense. And the team principal has made it clear what his priority is: protecting the team from the long waves of controversy.
Leave a Reply