Key Highlights:
- Ferrari leadership, backed by President John Elkann and CEO Benedetto Vigna, released a formal statement confirming full confidence in team principal Fred Vasseur following persistent media speculation.
- Rumors accelerated after an interview in The Times where former Red Bull chief Christian Horner referenced Ferrari as a dream role, followed by comments from Lewis Hamilton regarding organizational structure.
- Fred Vasseur rejected finger-pointing, urging Maranello to maintain stability, serenity, and internal unity while developing upcoming upgrades and preparing 2027 car and power unit programs.
Ferrari Reasserts Commitment to Fred Vasseur Amid Outside Noise
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has welcomed public affirmations of support from senior management, calling on the Italian squad to preserve internal unity rather than assigning blame or succumbing to external pressure. Despite Ferrari demonstrating an improved trajectory under the sport’s 2026 regulatory framework, Vasseur’s standing became the focus of intense media scrutiny throughout the week.
The wave of speculation was ignited by an interview published in The Times, during which former Red Bull Racing team chief Christian Horner noted that leading Ferrari would represent a dream role, though Horner did not express an active intention to pursue the position. The comments rapidly sparked heavy media discussion across Italy, prompting Ferrari president John Elkann and CEO Benedetto Vigna to intervene directly with an official vote of confidence.
“This is not just related to the story in The Times of Mr Horner, but in general, there is a lot of speculation about Fred,” the statement said. “So again, we have confidence in Fred Vasseur and in his team, and we continue to do so. And the position is clear, but not just now. We already confirmed in the past.”
Seeking Stability in the Maranello Garage
Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc voiced their backing for Vasseur ahead of track action, reinforcing management’s position. Speaking in a press conference at the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was exceptionally held in Malaysia, Vasseur emphasized that the executive intervention was necessary to shield the workforce from constant distractions while they coordinate development for the current campaign alongside 2027 car and power unit designs.
“When you see the noise and all the rumours in the press all the week, as a team we need to work in serenity and it was absolutely not the case,”
Vasseur explained. “I think the statement, it was mandatory to do something or it would have been the same this weekend. Honestly, the big issue we have today is the stability, the serenity in the team, the focus that we need to have and not to have this kind of question all day.”
Addressing Driver Feedback and Internal Structure
While offering firm support for Vasseur, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton indicated that the operational setup surrounding the Frenchman might benefit from evaluation, contrasting the setup with his previous team environment under Toto Wolff.
“There is a structure that’s been there for some time; whether or not that needs looking at moving forward… There are changes that I would make, but I’m not going to talk about what those are,” the seven-time world champion said. “Toto [Wolff] is in a different position to Fred and the structure’s a lot different. So, that’s all I can say on it, really.”
Vasseur downplayed suggestions of structural failure, reiterating that identifying individual shortcomings would be a “big mistake”
and that operational refinement remains an ongoing, collective endeavor.
“On the comment of Lewis, I think it would be a mistake to finger-point someone or something,” Vasseur said. “In the good moments, we are winning as a team. In the bad moments, we are suffering as a team. And I don’t want to speak about a single individual or whatever. Honestly, I think it would be a huge mistake to start to not be unified.
“We had a good beginning of the season. For sure it’s not enough, we want to get more, we want to win more, we want to win the championship. But at the end of the day, we had a positive start. We are struggling the last couple of races, but we are hoping to come back soon with development and to be back on the pace.”
Why This Matters
Maintaining leadership continuity has historically been one of Ferrari’s greatest challenges amid relentless pressure from the Italian press and high competitive expectations. By proactively issuing a public defense of Fred Vasseur, John Elkann and Benedetto Vigna aim to halt the cycle of managerial churn that has disrupted previous campaigns. As Formula 1 navigates the 2026 technical regulations, mid-season performance dips can easily compound into major crises; preserving internal focus is critical as Maranello prepares both short-term aerodynamic upgrades and long-term 2027 technical architecture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Ferrari release a public statement regarding Fred Vasseur?
Ferrari executive leadership issued the statement to quell widespread media speculation surrounding Fred Vasseur’s future, which intensified after Christian Horner discussed the allure of the Ferrari team principal role in an interview with The Times.
What were Lewis Hamilton’s comments regarding the Ferrari team structure?
While supporting Vasseur, Lewis Hamilton noted that the team’s long-standing operational structure could warrant review and mentioned there were changes he would personally make, drawing a comparison to the structure utilized by Toto Wolff.
How is Ferrari addressing its recent dip in performance?
Fred Vasseur confirmed that while the team has faced difficulties over the last couple of races after a positive start to the season, Ferrari is united and relies on upcoming car development packages to restore their competitive pace.
