Italian journalists answer back to Fred Vasseur’s remarks amid Ferrari future. Italian journalists responded strongly to Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur’s remarks.

Fred Vasseur’s Outburst
After receiving reports during the week from various Italian outlets casting doubt on his future at Ferrari, Frederic Vasseur went on the offensive on Friday in Montreal. The team principal spoke both at the FIA press conference and to television crews, harshly criticizing “a portion of the Italian journalists,” emphasizing how unfair it was to constantly mention revolving doors for team members, which he said distracted the team. The Frenchman bluntly stated, “With this type of journalists, you don’t win championships,” before confirming to Sky Italia that his contract actually expires at the end of the season and that renewal talks have not yet started.

Journalists’ Responses
As explained yesterday, rumors about Ferrari are increasingly a topic in interviews with drivers and team principals alike, so for completeness we report them on our site. Today we present the responses of Italian journalists to Frederic Vasseur’s comments.

Already last night, Umberto Zapelloni on his TopSpeed blog noted: “Maybe Fred got confused. If he had learned Italian, he would have understood: nobody is against Ferrari, but only against those who lead it without managing to bring it where it should be.”

Browsing the newspapers, Daniele Sparisci in Corriere della Sera was blunt: “Fred Vasseur appeared nervous, too much, and like his driver, he went off track with incoherent attacks […]. After the outburst, he started laughing again, adding jokes (‘I have to stay calm or I’ll end up with the race stewards’). Someone reminded him when Ferrari started the season aiming for two titles. His reply: ‘That was everyone’s goal.’ Someone is achieving it, not him.”

Also, Fulvio Solms in Corriere dello Sport was quite direct: “The French manager played the offended party. […] This is, of course, the same press that for years has held Ferrari in high regard, and that still at the start of this season believed in Maranello’s double world championship bid. Back then, he was on the ‘good’ list.”

Leo Turrini in Quotidiano Sportivo basically skimmed over the topic, speaking generally of “troubling notes surrounding Ferrari” and anticipating Piero Ferrari’s presence in the Montreal paddock. Giulia Toninelli for La Gazzetta dello Sport limited herself to reporting Fred Vasseur’s statements without comment. La Repubblica with Stefano Zaino referred to a Vasseur “put to the test by perhaps unfounded, but certainly inconvenient, rumors,” while La Stampa did not address the matter.

Finally, Motorsport Italia’s Roberto Chinchero contextualized the reference to market rumors about team members to rumors concerning Enrico Balbo, quoting Fred Vasseur: “I Googled his name to see what that person looks like. We have reached a point where someone can spread rumors about a person I have never met in my life.” Roberto Chinchero added: “A necessary clarification, but it might not be if a brief and clear message of support for the team principal arrives from Maranello’s top management. If president John Elkann or CEO Benedetto Vigna attend the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the occasion would be perfect. […] Amid many speculations that have not found objective confirmation over time, there have been several cases in the past where rumors turned out to be true.” The example of Mattia Binotto was cited, with rumors first denied by Ferrari and then confirmed by the effective separation weeks later: “In the Scuderia’s history, there have also been heavy whispers, heard only by those who, in the end, just did their job.”