Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has questioned whether Fred Vasseur has enough support from the senior leadership at Maranello to make difficult or unpopular decisions, particularly after Ferrari faced criticism over its handling of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc during the Dutch Grand Prix.
Luca di Montezemolo believes the issue goes beyond one strategic decision at Zandvoort. The former Ferrari chairman has long expressed concerns over leadership within the Formula 1 operation and now says he senses that Fred Vasseur could be isolated when the team principal is required to make major calls involving his drivers.
Luca di Montezemolo questions Fred Vasseur’s backing at Ferrari
Speaking in September last year, Luca di Montezemolo argued that Ferrari lacked leadership under Fred Vasseur, who replaced Mattia Binotto as team principal at the beginning of 2023. His concerns have resurfaced following a difficult Dutch Grand Prix in which the Scuderia missed an opportunity to finish on the podium.
Lewis Hamilton eventually crossed the line fourth, only eight tenths of a second behind George Russell in third, after spending several laps behind Charles Leclerc during the middle phase of the race. Ferrari’s decision not to swap its drivers became one of the central talking points of the weekend and contributed to the review ordered by Fred Vasseur after the Dutch GP.
Luca di Montezemolo told Leo Turrini that he had argued for years that there was a shortage of leadership in Maranello, making clear that he was referring specifically to Ferrari’s Formula 1 operation.
Reflecting on the criticism Fred Vasseur received after Zandvoort for not issuing team orders between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, the former president suggested that the more important question was who inside the company would stand behind the French team principal if he made a controversial decision.
Jean Todt and Rubens Barrichello example shapes Luca di Montezemolo’s view
Luca di Montezemolo drew a comparison with Ferrari’s handling of the controversial 2002 Austrian Grand Prix, when Rubens Barrichello was ordered to allow Michael Schumacher to win.
At the time, Jean Todt faced considerable criticism for the decision, but Luca di Montezemolo stood firmly behind his team principal. He recalled that when Rubens Barrichello complained about what had happened, he personally told the Brazilian that, as Ferrari president, he represented the company and that Rubens Barrichello could find another team if he did not accept Jean Todt’s decisions.
Whether the Austria call was popular with the public or not, Luca di Montezemolo stressed that Jean Todt had made the decision because Ferrari believed it served the team’s interests.
The former chairman now doubts whether Fred Vasseur would receive equivalent institutional backing if he made a similarly forceful call. He therefore questioned who would protect the current Ferrari team principal if he had to make an unpopular decision, particularly one involving the competitive interests of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Does Ferrari’s structure discourage Fred Vasseur from intervening?
Luca di Montezemolo believes that uncertainty could give Fred Vasseur an incentive not to interfere too aggressively when situations develop between his drivers. In his view, the issue is therefore not simply whether Ferrari should have instructed Charles Leclerc to let Lewis Hamilton through at Zandvoort, but whether the team principal knows that the organisation would fully support him if such an intervention created controversy.
The Dutch Grand Prix has intensified discussion over Ferrari’s approach to team orders. Former Ferrari engineer Rob Smedley has also argued that the Scuderia should provide clearer support to Lewis Hamilton, adding another perspective to the debate over Ferrari’s driver hierarchy.
Luca di Montezemolo’s concern is that leadership requires the authority to make those decisions and confidence that senior figures will defend them afterwards. He said he senses loneliness around Fred Vasseur and questioned whether anyone within Ferrari would genuinely have the French manager’s back if he chose a path that attracted criticism.
Luca di Montezemolo hopes for Ferrari one-two at Monza
The discussion comes just before Ferrari’s home race at Monza, where the Scuderia is attempting to respond immediately after its missed Dutch Grand Prix opportunity.
Luca di Montezemolo was also asked about his ideal result for the Italian Grand Prix. His preferred outcome would be a Ferrari one-two, with either Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc delivering the victory and championship leader Kimi Antonelli recovering to finish third.
Kimi Antonelli is due to start from the back of the grid after an engine change, a penalty that could improve Ferrari’s prospects at a circuit where every opportunity will matter. The Mercedes driver’s progress throughout the season can also be followed through Kimi Antonelli coverage.
Despite his deep connection with Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo admitted that he has developed enormous affection for the young Italian. He explained that his loyalty to Ferrari remains instinctive and that he hopes for something special from Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc, but he cannot hide his sympathy for Kimi Antonelli.
He believes the Mercedes youngster is talented enough to produce something remarkable even from the back of the field. For Luca di Montezemolo, the ideal Monza scenario would therefore combine a Ferrari triumph with an impressive recovery from Italy’s current championship leader.
Ferrari faces a defining home weekend
The comments highlight how the Italian Grand Prix carries significance on several levels for Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will attempt to deliver the home result the Tifosi expect, while Fred Vasseur arrives under renewed scrutiny following the decisions made at Zandvoort.
Lewis Hamilton’s fourth-place finish in the Netherlands intensified questions about whether Ferrari should have intervened earlier between its drivers, while the seven-time world champion remains central to the debate over how the Scuderia manages its championship ambitions. The latest developments around the British driver can be followed through our Lewis Hamilton Ferrari coverage.
For Luca di Montezemolo, however, the central concern extends above the pit wall. His argument is that Ferrari needs a Formula 1 leader who can make difficult decisions while knowing that the company will support him when those choices become unpopular. As Monza approaches, he remains unconvinced that Fred Vasseur currently enjoys the same protection Jean Todt received during Ferrari’s previous era of success.
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