Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has expressed significant frustration over the numerous rumors circulated by the media in recent months. Following a lackluster first half of the season for Scuderia, not only his own future but also that of drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton came under scrutiny. Although the Frenchman has now secured a new contract, he continues to criticize the sensationalism that affects Ferrari, and other drivers like Max Verstappen, for example.
In the spring, various sources reported that the Ferrari leadership was questioning their collaboration with Vasseur. The 57-year-old team principal was allegedly given only a few Grand Prix to prove himself again. However, after the Belgian GP, a new deal was ‘simply’ concluded. “All these rumors have only caused unrest,” Vasseur responded in an interview with Auto, Motor und Sport. “They were not spread by me, but by the media. Ferrari and I have said nothing.”
“Unfortunately, you can no longer avoid these kinds of disturbing influences these days,” Vasseur explained. “I don’t want to tar all journalists with the same brush, but with the internet, reporting has become much more aggressive. There is a drive to generate clicks.” The team principal was particularly annoyed by the stories surrounding his contract and future at Ferrari. “When these rumors first surfaced in Montreal, I was really angry – it just went too far. Moreover, my technical director, Loïc Serra, was accused of not doing his job well. But the SF-25 was practically finished when Loïc started working with us.”
Impact on the Team
Charles Leclerc also had to face the music. After yet another disappointing first half of the season without victories for Ferrari, his future plans were also put into question. “The story with Charles (Leclerc) was similar,” said Vasseur. “There were regular reports that he would move to Mercedes. It didn’t matter to anyone that he had repeatedly confirmed his commitment to Ferrari. This certainly had an impact on the team – in Italy, people tend to react more emotionally. Without that noise, the process would have been much quicker.”
“Such stories can also cause people within the team to lose their focus,” Vasseur concluded. “Just look at Max Verstappen and Red Bull, the media has been rife with rumors in recent weeks. McLaren has proven to be stronger in this regard; they have completely ignored these stories and speculations.” To prevent such speculation, the transfer of Lewis Hamilton was announced early last year: “This way, Carlos Sainz knew immediately where he stood and we were able to prevent panic.”
