Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur strongly criticized the Italian media following recent reports suggesting his position at the Formula 1 team is under threat.
Numerous Italian media outlets, including the widely-read Corriere della Sera, have targeted Ferrari this week, implying Vasseur is in a precarious position due to the team`s disappointing start to the 2025 season.
Lewis Hamilton offered a passionate defense of Vasseur on Thursday, highlighting the team principal`s pivotal role in facilitating his own transfer to Ferrari for the current season.
A separate report from La Gazzetta dello Sport also indicated that the internal reception of technical director Loïc Serra, who joined from Mercedes alongside Hamilton, has not met expectations.
Vasseur appeared before the media on Friday for the first time since the reports surfaced, adopting a combative tone and even joking about the FIA`s recent penalties for using foul language in press conferences.
Responding to the initial question about the rumors, Vasseur remarked humorously, “First, I have to stay calm because I will have to visit the stewards.”
He elaborated that the speculation was negatively impacting other team personnel.
“It`s certain Italian media outlets, not all of them,” Vasseur clarified. “This isn`t about me; I can handle it. It`s more about the people within the team. Publicly naming individuals like this is disrespectful to them and their families. We saw this last year with the former head of aero [Enrico Cardile, who moved to Aston Martin], and other names have been mentioned this season.”
“I don`t know or understand their objective,” he continued. “Perhaps they intend to cause trouble for the team, but I fail to see the purpose. Maybe it`s their only way to gain relevance. That`s likely closer to the truth. Regardless, it`s genuinely harming the team.”
“At a critical point, it disrupts focus. When you`re competing for a championship, every small detail matters. And from the start of the weekend, this is all we`re discussing.”
“If their goal is to put the team in this difficult position, then they`ve succeeded. But frankly… this isn`t how we`ll win a championship. Certainly not with this type of journalism surrounding us.”
Media coverage of Ferrari in Italy is frequently characterized by extreme ups and downs.
Vasseur further stated that the reporting by certain Italian outlets had become excessive and was counterproductive to Ferrari`s aspirations of future championship success.
“This situation is a daily occurrence in Italy, and it`s simply too much,” he asserted. “Honestly, if they desire our success, we need to be able to work in a clean environment. Currently, that is not the case.”
“Regarding the person we discussed last year,” Vasseur recalled, “I had to Google the individual`s name just to see their face. We`ve reached a point where rumors can be spread about someone I`ve never even met. Remember, we`re talking about people, not objects. I believe everyone deserves some respect.”
While acknowledging that speculation and pressure are inherent to the role of a Ferrari boss, Vasseur emphasized his greater concern was the anxiety caused to other team members regarding their jobs.
He added, “I knew this before taking the job; I was fully aware of the exposure. The main issue isn`t with the team principal, as we understand the risks. The real problem in these situations lies with the team members themselves. That affects me far more than my personal standing.”
“Consider that people in every team on the grid work incredibly hard, dedicating all their energy. They sometimes make significant sacrifices for their families and so forth. Publishing names like this in the press is incredibly harsh.”
“You must understand that when a journalist writes, `Ferrari will hire this person for this role,` there is someone currently in that position who, on Sunday evening, might think, `Okay, tomorrow morning I`ll be jobless if the newspaper report is accurate and someone else is taking my place.`”
