Ferrari’s hierarchy are bound to consider the views of their two drivers as they make a decision on the future of Fred Vasseur. The team principal is out of contract at the end of the season.
Ferrari scoffed at reports that Vasseur’s job is at risk in the lead-up to the Canadian Grand Prix. But equally, there has been no indication that he’s held talks over an extension.
Martin Brundle believes Ferrari would be ‘nuts’ to axe Vasseur. While the team have fallen well short of their objectives this season, Brundle doesn’t think a change of leadership is the answer.
Speaking in their media duties on Thursday, both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc expressed their support for Vasseur. It’s unclear where the stories, which appeared in multiple Italian media outlets, have originated from.
Charles Leclerc firmly believes Fred Vasseur is doing a ‘fantastic job’ at Ferrari
Like Hamilton, Sky Sports pundit and 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg worked with Vasseur in the junior categories. Rosberg regards him as a ‘great leader’.
The Frenchman took over at the start of 2023 and seemed to be on the precipice of ending Ferrari’s title drought coming into this year. The Scuderia haven’t won either championship since 2007, and there is impatience in their homeland.
Leclerc wasn’t necessarily as emphatic as Hamilton in his pro-Vasseur comments before the race. But Rosberg says he has expressed firm approval in private.
- READ MORE: Who is Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur? Everything you need to know
“We need to give him more time I feel,” the ex-Mercedes driver said. “He is a great leader. He was my Formula 2 team boss, so I know him very, very well.
“I know also from the drivers, from Charles, that he thinks Fred is doing a fantastic job. It just takes time and it’s not that easy to turn a whole culture around and get Ferrari back to winning ways.
“It’s tough on him because the headlines in the Italian press, everybody’s reading it, it says ‘Vasseur out’. That’s horrible.”
Lewis Hamilton sounded like Michael Schumacher when discussing Fred Vasseur
Hamilton says he wouldn’t be at Ferrari at all if it wasn’t for his relationship with Vasseur. He remains 100% confident that the 57-year-old can furnish him with the tools to win an eighth title.
Just under 30 years ago, Michael Schumacher passionately backed Jean Todt, who was also under pressure at Ferrari. The German even threatened to follow Todt out the door if he was sacked.
Schumacher’s instincts were correct, and he went on to deliver five championships under Todt’s leadership. He held the role for 14 years overall, but nobody has kept it for more than six since.
Ferrari are 197 points behind McLaren heading into Sunday’s race in Montreal.
