Ferrari staff principal Fred Vasseur has criticised sections of the F1 media, claiming “aggressive” rumours and hypothesis in regards to the staff led to “pointless” turmoil.
Ferrari have endured a disappointing first half of the 2025 F1 season.
They’re the one staff inside the highest 4 of the constructors’ standings with out a victory.
Their 2025 F1 challenger hasn’t lived as much as expectations and has been affected by points.
Whereas current upgrades have made Ferrari the second-fastest staff, their progress has been thwarted by the truth that Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton need to handle their plank put on on the finish of races.
This principle was put ahead after Leclerc’s tempo dropped off on the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Leclerc went from difficult for the victory on the Hungaroring to ending fourth.
Ferrari’s disappointing on-track type led to hypothesis round Vasseur’s future.
Nonetheless, Vasseur has just lately signed a brand new deal to maintain him as staff principal past subsequent 12 months.
Vasseur conceded that the hypothesis round his future – and the staff typically – “brought on turmoil,” main him to take a swipe on the press.
“Rumours brought on the turmoil,” Vasseur advised AMuS. “I didn’t begin them; the media did. Neither Ferrari nor I spoke.
“However at this time, you possibly can’t keep away from such interference. I don’t need to tar all journalists with the identical brush, however with the web, reporting has grow to be rather more aggressive. There’s a strain to generate clicks.”
Ferrari rumours “went too far”
Rumours emerged forward of the Canadian Grand Prix claiming that Vasseur was set to get replaced as staff principal.
Vasseur was instantly backed by Leclerc and Hamilton once they spoke to the media on Thursday in Montreal.
Lewis Hamilton, Fred Vasseur and Charles Leclerc
The Frenchman went on the defensive 24 hours later, stating that the experiences had been “disrespectful”.
Vasseur defined that the hypothesis impacted the staff and that his new contract would have been sorted sooner had it not been for the rumours.
“When these rumours first surfaced in Canada, I used to be actually offended, as a result of they went too far,” he added.
“My technical director, Loïc Serra, was accused of not doing job. And but, the 2025 automotive was virtually prepared when Loïc began working for us.
“The story with Charles Leclerc was comparable. Some folks recurrently wrote that Charles was going to Mercedes. No one cared that he repeatedly confirmed he had a long-term contract with Ferrari.
“That has an influence on the staff. In Italy, folks react extra emotionally. With out this background noise, my talks with Ferrari would have been a lot faster.”
