“Vasseur? Ferrari need a leader. Like Ross Brawn was”: the former driver’s blunt verdict
Riccardo Patrese has delivered a harsh assessment of Fred Vasseur’s 2025 season at Ferrari, calling for a clear change of direction and insisting that the Scuderia needs a true leader at the top. With Ferrari finishing the 2025 campaign in the red, ending the constructors’ championship in fourth place, the result fell well short of the objectives Frédéric Vasseur had set for himself at the beginning of the season.
What went wrong at the Scuderia, which no longer looks like the Prancing Horse of old, is clearly reflected in the numbers, making further explanations almost unnecessary. Even a former Formula 1 driver has struggled to fully understand the situation Ferrari currently find themselves in.
Speaking to Leo Turrini, Riccardo Patrese admitted that he is “not optimistic for 2026”, explaining that “Ferrari are coming off a disappointing season”. His comments reflect growing concern around the direction of the Maranello-based team at a crucial point in its recent history.
In the pages of today’s edition of Quotidiano Nazionale, Riccardo Patrese went into greater detail, stating: “We are coming from a championship in which clear shortcomings in the management of the Scuderia became evident.”
For Charles Leclerc, the 2026 season has been described as a case of “now or never”, a serious warning sign that Fred Vasseur cannot afford to underestimate as pressure continues to build around Ferrari’s long-term project.
“Without a doubt, the Frenchman is now playing for everything. He has been there since January 2023, and he has had the time to build,” Riccardo Patrese continued. He then pointed directly at the team principal’s management style, adding: “In general, so far Fred has seemed to me not very reactive when faced with difficulties. In Formula One, as in any top-level company, it is essential to create a close-knit working group. This is the task a team principal must carry out. After that, there is more.” – he pointed out.
According to the former Italian driver, a decisive shift in approach is now required: “Ferrari need an important technical leader.” As suggested by Leo Turrini, one possible model could be Ross Brawn, who followed Michael Schumacher to Ferrari in 1996 as technical director and played a fundamental role in building a winning structure.
“Exactly, someone like that. Andrea Stella has become that figure with McLaren and for McLaren,” Riccardo Patrese concluded.
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