Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur says elements of the Italian media’s reporting “hurts” his team and is a contributing factor in preventing them from winning championships.
Following a hugely disappointing start to a 2025 campaign in which Ferrari were expected to contend for titles after signing Lewis Hamilton to partner Charles Leclerc, reports in Italy earlier this week claimed that Vasseur’s position was under threat.
Asked about the speculation on Friday at the Canadian Grand Prix, Vasseur said he was able to cope with the situation but suggested “disrespectful” and “very harsh” speculation over others working under him at Ferrari was destabilising the team.
Vasseur said: “It’s some of the Italian media, not all of the Italian media. It’s not about myself because this I can manage, it’s more the people of the team. To use their name like this is disrespectful to them and their family.
“I don’t understand the target. Perhaps it’s to give **** to the team. In this case, I don’t see the point. Perhaps for them (publications) it’s the only way to exist. This is probably more the reason.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has dismissed rumours linking him to a future position at Ferrari.
“But it still hurts the team. At one stage it’s a lack of focus. When you’re fighting for the championship, every single detail makes a difference.
“From the beginning of the weekend we have just been speaking about this. If it’s their target to put the team in this situation, they have reached their goal.
“It’s not like this that we can win a championship, at least not with this kind of journalist around us.
Lewis Hamilton quashed any Fred Vasseur exit rumours and admitted he felt relieved after the Spanish GP when the team discovered an issue with the car.
“To be the team principal, I knew when I took the position that you are exposed. This is quite easy to manage. It’s more for the people of the team. They are working very hard.
“To decide one day ‘this one will be replaced, this one is useless’. Honestly, it’s very harsh. These journalists need to consider these people have family. This is completely disrespectful.”
‘We didn’t do a good job’
Ferrari have largely been on an upward trajectory since Vasseur took over from Mattia Binotto at the start of 2023, with the Italian missing out to McLaren on last season’s constructors’ title by just 14 points.
A strong end to 2024, along with the blockbuster signing of seven-time world champion Hamilton to partner Leclerc, raised hopes of a first constructors’ triumph since 2008, or a first drivers’ title since Kimi Raikkonen’s 2007 victory.
Instead, Ferrari have yet to win a grand prix this season, while Leclerc has claimed their three podium finishes, leaving the team scrapping for second place with Mercedes and Red Bull.
After clipping the wall, Charles Leclerc brings out the first red flag of the weekend in Canadian Grand Prix Practice One.
Vasseur said: “The initial goal was to fight for the championship. But I think it’s true for us, Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren, we are all in this mood to fight for the championship at the beginning of the season.
“If you compare with expectation for that, McLaren is one step great compared to everybody and we didn’t do a good job on our side in the first couple of races.”
Along with suggestions Vasseur is under pressure, reports from Italy also claimed that Leclerc is considering his future as the Monegasque pursues a maiden title.
Vasseur said: “Charles has a long-term contract with us. Every single interview from the beginning of the season, he’s saying that he wants to stay with Ferrari, he wants to win with Ferrari, his future is with Ferrari.
“But every single Monday, we have an article saying ‘Charles will go next year’.
The F1 Show podcast panel discuss Lewis Hamilton’s performance and his dejected response after the Spanish Grand Prix and ask how the seven-time World Champion can turn things around at Ferrari.
“At one stage, I don’t know what we have to do. I’m sorry, and I can’t repeat it every single weekend, the same things. It is what is is.
“Now with the with Lewis and Charles, I think we have a good relationship altogether. We have a clear target. We know that we have to work and we know that we have to push.
“The mood in the team is very good. It’s the basic if you want to recover and to win. But everything is there. Everything is on the table to a good job and altogether we are working well.”
Sky Sports F1’s Canadian GP schedule
A look back at some of the most dramatic moments from the Canadian Grand Prix.
Saturday June 14
2.10pm: F1 Academy Race One
5.15pm: Canadian GP Practice Three (session starts at 5.30pm)
7.30pm: F1 Academy Race Two
8.30pm: Canadian GP Qualifying build-up
9pm: CANADIAN GP QUALIFYING
11pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday June 15
3.50pm: F1 Academy Race Three
5.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Canadian GP build-up*
7pm: THE CANADIAN GRAND PRIX*
9pm: Chequered Flag: Canadian GP reaction
10pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
The 2025 Formula 1 season resumes live on Sky Sports F1 with the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime.
