Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has signed a multi-year contract extension, ending speculation about his future with the team.
Vasseur’s position had been under scrutiny, especially after some reports suggesting his possible departure at the end of the season due to unfavorable results.
Ferrari dispelled any doubts on Thursday by confirming the new agreement, highlighting the “determination to build on the foundations established so far” under its leadership.
Although agreements in Formula 1 rarely specify the exact duration, the team confirmed that it is a “multi-year” contract, which could extend his stay beyond 2026.
The news of its extension comes weeks after Christian Horner, one of the most successful team bosses in history, was fired by Red Bull.
Horner had been linked with Vasseur’s position earlier this year, before his departure from Red Bull, and maintains a good relationship with Ferrari president John Elkann, but Vasseur’s new agreement puts an end to those speculations.Vasseur replaced Mattia Binotto in 2023 and played a key role in the signing of Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes.
He almost managed to end Ferrari’s title drought last season, when the team finished one position short of overtaking McLaren in the constructors’ championship, which would have been their first title since 2008.
Despite that good performance, the pressure increased this season, with McLaren taking the lead and Ferrari showing an inferior performance on the track.
Hamilton’s sprint race in China has been the only time a Ferrari driver has stood on the top step of the podium.
Both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc had publicly expressed their support for Vasseur when the reports were intense.
The agreement means that Vasseur will lead Ferrari in the new Formula 1 era next year.
The sport is preparing for a significant rule change in both aerodynamics and engines, which implies completely new cars for each team.
Like its rivals, Ferrari has been working on its 2026 car behind the scenes.
As with any regulation change, the new rules offer a clean slate, giving Ferrari and all the other teams reasons to hope they can emerge as the dominant team at the Australian Grand Prix that will open the season next year.
