The head of F1 defends Fred Vasseur
Stefano Domenicali defends the work of Ferrari team principal, Frederic Vasseur. Caught in the tunnel of the SF-25’s unexpected performance issues at the start of the season, the French manager and engineer now finds himself in the uncomfortable position of having to speak out at every Grand Prix, often to explain and justify the disappointing performances of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The head of Formula 1, who experienced many of the same difficulties now facing Frederic Vasseur when he was in charge at Ferrari’s pit wall from 2008 to 2014, believes the key word is “stability,” as changing team leadership often creates confusion rather than a real turnaround.
Stefano Domenicali’s words on the Ferrari situation
“If there’s someone who can speak about this,” said Stefano Domenicali about the current Ferrari situation in a lengthy interview with Sky, “it’s me. Working in Maranello is a privilege on the one hand, but also comes with the responsibility of managing the team. I believe that, beyond words, only one thing is needed at the moment: letting Fred work calmly, with focus, alongside the drivers. The internal tensions, in my view, should always be seen constructively, as opportunities to improve in one’s role.”
“Vasseur,” Stefano Domenicali adds, “must have the assurance that he can work, that he can stay focused on his project, because it’s too important not to lose track. This year, in fact, if you don’t work properly, you could pay a high price even for 2026… So that’s my hope, knowing that things in Formula 1 can change quickly. Advice for Fred? I speak with him almost daily and give him my advice in private. But he knows well that he must stay focused on what he must clearly recognize as his priorities.”
“We absolutely need stability, no question about it. I say that as a fan, even though right now I must first be a fan of all 20 cars on the grid, not just Ferrari,” Stefano Domenicali concluded.
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