Is Vasseur’s position really at risk?
Could Fréd Vasseur once again be at risk in his role as Ferrari Team Principal? This is the question circulating following the latest rumours, as the French manager continues to lead the Maranello team with the SF-26, a car that has already shown both its strengths and its weaknesses in the opening three races of the 2026 season.
At the Fiorano circuit, Pirelli testing is currently underway, with Lewis Hamilton having driven yesterday and continuing today in order to gather further data. On April 9, the seven-time World Champion completed as many as 142 laps, testing various Full Wet tyre prototypes during the morning and early afternoon sessions. Later in the day, a new Intermediate compound was also evaluated on artificially wet asphalt. The best lap time recorded was 1’01’’031.
Meanwhile, as reported by AutoRacer.it, Charles Leclerc has been working on the simulator in recent days, focusing on the Monza and Miami circuits. It is also worth recalling that on April 22 Ferrari will carry out a 200-kilometre filming day at the Italian track in order to test a new upgrade package intended for the Miami Grand Prix. With this context in mind, attention now turns to what is emerging regarding Fred Vasseur’s position.
What Vasseur must do to stay at Ferrari
Following news confirming the arrival of Giampiero Lambiase at McLaren in 2028, rumours began to circulate about a possible departure of Andrea Stella from Woking towards Maranello. However, the Italian is reportedly very happy in the United Kingdom and has no intention of leaving. A denial arrived yesterday via the BBC, and now AutoRacer.it has also clarified the situation.
There had even been speculation about a potential departure of Fréd Vasseur, but at this stage such claims appear to have no real foundation, at least according to sources within the Scuderia. The difficult 2025 season for Ferrari created significant controversy around his role, even after his contract renewal during the summer. However, after those struggles, Ferrari needed to respond strongly ahead of the new regulatory cycle – and it has done so.
The Team Principal has brought in several trusted technicians – not necessarily high-profile names, but mostly young talents combined with some more experienced figures – all working in line with the direction of Technical Director Loïc Serra. The French engineer, in his first year in the role, has managed to produce a car with strong aerodynamic load and an excellent mechanical platform.
The main weakness of the SF-26 remains the power unit, but development work is already underway on a new engine, which is not expected to debut before July despite the ADUO concessions. If Ferrari arrives in Miami with a further step forward in performance, then Fred Vasseur’s position would not be questioned at all. However, if the team falls back into familiar mistakes, then anything could happen.
While the ever-present rumor mill of Maranello continues to churn, Fred Vasseur’s immediate future seems tied to the performance of the SF-26 on track. The structural changes initiated under his leadership, particularly the technical direction of Loic Serra, have provided a solid platform that was missing in previous years. With the support of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc and a clear development path toward the Miami upgrades, the French manager has the tools to silence his critics. Ultimately, stability is often the missing ingredient for success at Ferrari, and maintaining the current leadership through this regulatory transition may be the team’s best chance at returning to the top of the podium.
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