On media day in Montreal, rumors circulated that the next three races are crucial for the future of Fred Vasseur as team principal at Ferrari. During the press conference, the Frenchman is put on the spot. Initially, he tries to remain calm, but he doesn’t hold back and even lets slip a curse word.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur is under pressure, and according to rumors from Italian media, the next three Grands Prix are crucial for his future with the team. These reports were circulating on media day in Montreal, and the Frenchman was immediately confronted with them during the press conference. “First of all, I have to stay calm, otherwise there will be a trip to the stewards,” says Vasseur with visible irritation to the media present. “It’s about certain Italian media. Not all Italian media.”
Then Vasseur seems to get carried away for a moment. “Perhaps the goal is to put the team in the shit. Maybe it’s the only way for them to exist. That’s probably more the reason, but it harms the team. When you’re fighting for the championship, every detail makes a difference. From the start of the weekend, we’ve only been talking about this. If their goal is to put the team in this situation, then they’ve succeeded. But we won’t win a championship this way.”
Even though he’s on the verge of losing his cool, Vasseur still manages to crack a joke. “I’m not going to the stewards, am I?” he asks aloud, before taking another swipe at the press. “As a team boss, you know you’re going to be exposed to this when you take on the role, but I think it’s quite easy to manage. It’s more for the people on the team, for those who work very hard and have to make decisions. You have these journalists, and I’m not lumping everyone together, but they need to remember that these people have families, a spouse, children. It’s utterly disrespectful. Now, I don’t want to talk about this nonsense anymore.”
‘I’m not going to reveal anything’
Vasseur does continue to talk when asked about the rumors surrounding Charles Leclerc, who is reportedly uncertain about his future with Ferrari. “A good example. Charles has a long-term contract with us and says in every interview that he wants to stay with Ferrari. He wants to win with Ferrari and his future is with Ferrari, but every Monday there’s another article saying he’s leaving next year. I don’t know what we can do about it. I’m sorry, but I can’t repeat the same thing every weekend,” Vasseur sighs.
Finally, Vasseur vents his frustration when asked about the issues Lewis Hamilton and Leclerc faced in Spain. “If I tell you during the press conference that I’m not going to reveal anything, don’t come back 10 minutes later and again the following Friday to ask again. I’m not going to reveal anything. We’ve put the front wheels at the back.”
