Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur lays out how he handles the pressure coming from the Italian press. The Scuderia is a source of national pride for Italy, and that routinely fuels speculation about everything that happens behind the scenes in Maranello. “Everything is magnified in Italy,” Vasseur says — he regards his primary task as protecting his team.
Frédéric Vasseur begins his fourth season as Ferrari team principal, and during his time at the helm of the Scuderia he has several times been the subject of speculation. The Frenchman came under increasing pressure toward the end of the first half of the 2025 season, when the strong results failed to materialize. Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna nevertheless expressed his confidence in Vasseur, and the Frenchman’s contract was extended. A season later, ahead of the test days, Ferrari is being named above all as one of the favorites for the title.
Vasseur has by now grown used to both the good and the bad headlines about the Italian outfit. “Everything in Italy gets magnified, whether it’s good or bad news,” the team principal told Auto Hebdo. “We have to constantly temper the positive euphoria, and rein in the negativity.”
‘That’s part of my job’
For the Frenchman, the priority is protecting Ferrari’s staff. “That’s part of my job,” Vasseur goes on. “I knew this when I signed. There’s a particular buzz around the team that can make you lose your way and push people to expend energy on the wrong things. I have to shield people from that.”
There’s also heavy speculation from the Italian media about the team, especially over contract lengths and stability. “You have to separate rumours from reality,” Vasseur lays out his approach. “In Italy you can have a contract for fifteen years, but the press’ attitude will never change. What counts is my relationship with Ferrari. I know exactly where I stand with management. When these rumours start to affect the team and our employees, it’s harmful and it annoys me. When people begin talking about those who work in the shadows, I view that as a lack of respect,” the Frenchman concluded.
