Vasseur BLASTS Italian Media: Rumors Affect Ferrari

Fred Vasseur lashes out at the Italian press

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur expressed his frustration at reports in the Italian press suggesting his possible dismissal from the Formula 1 team. Italian publications have criticized Ferrari, insinuating that Vasseur could be in a delicate situation after the start of the 2025 season. Lewis Hamilton defended Vasseur, to whom he attributed the merit of his arrival at Ferrari this season. In addition, a report indicated that the arrival of technical director Loïc Serra has not met internal expectations. Vasseur, visibly annoyed, referenced the recent FIA fines for the use of inappropriate language in press conferences.

First, I have to remain calm because I will have to visit the commissioners.

Fred Vasseur

Vasseur stated that the reports were negatively affecting other team members. “It’s a part of the Italian press, not all of it. It’s not about me, because I can handle this. It’s more about the people on the team. Throwing their names out like that, I think it’s a lack of respect towards them, towards the family. Last year we had the case of the head of aerodynamics [Enrico Cardile, who is going to Aston Martin]. We’ve had other names this season.” “I don’t know what the goal is. I don’t understand the goal. Maybe it’s to harm the team, but in this case I don’t see the point. Maybe for them it’s the only way to exist. This is probably the reason. But it’s really hurting the team.” “At a certain point, it’s the lack of concentration. And when you’re fighting for the championship, every detail makes a difference. And from the beginning of the weekend, we’re only talking about this.” “And if their goal is to put the team in this situation, they achieve their goal. But I think that really… That’s not how we’ll be able to win a championship. And at least not with this type of journalists around us.”

Vasseur added that the reports in some parts of Italy had gone too far and were counterproductive to Ferrari’s aspirations of winning championships in the future. “We are in this situation daily now in Italy and too much is too much. Honestly, if they want us to succeed at some point, we also have to be able to work in a clean environment. And so far we are not in this situation.” “The person we talked about last year, I had to Google the guy’s name to see his face. You know, we’re at this point now where they’re able to spread a rumor about someone I’ve never met in my life. And consider that we’re talking about people. We’re not talking about things. I think everyone needs to have a little respect.” While speculation and pressure are part of a Ferrari boss’s job, Vasseur said it bothered him more that other team members felt uncomfortable in their positions. Added: “I knew it before [accepting the job], I knew perfectly well that I am exposed. The problem is not the team manager because we are fully aware… I think the problem in this type of situation is more the people on the team. And this is affecting me much more than my own position.” “We have to consider that the people on each team’s grid are working very hard, they are putting all their energy into it. Sometimes they make sacrifices for their family and so on. And putting names like that on paper, I think it’s very, very hard.” “You have to understand that when a journalist says that ‘Ferrari is going to hire this name for this position’, there is someone in this position and on Sunday night, the guy says, ‘OK, tomorrow morning I will no longer have a job because if what is in the newspaper is true, I will have someone in my position'”.