Ferrari extends Fred Vasseur's contract as team principal

Ferrari has confirmed the contract renewal of Fred Vasseur as Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari with a multi-season agreement. The decision reaffirms Maranello's confidence in the Frenchman, who took the position in January 2023.

Vasseur maintains executive backing after 30 months in charge

Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna publicly endorsed the leader's continuity. "We want to recognize what has been built and commit to what still needs to be achieved. This expresses our confidence in Fred's leadership, a confidence based on shared ambition, mutual expectations and clear responsibility," Vigna stated.

The contract renewal dispels rumors linking Christian Horner with a potential move to Ferrari. Vasseur, 56, had replaced Mattia Binotto in December 2022, inheriting a team marked by the frustration of losing the constructors' championship despite leading for most of 2022.

Photo By Ferrari

Positive results in 2023 and 2024 despite current challenges

Under his leadership, Ferrari achieved six victories between 2023 and 2024, including wins by Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. The team finished second in the 2024 Constructors' Championship, just 14 points behind McLaren, demonstrating the Italian team's progress.

The executive implemented key technical changes in October 2024, bringing in Loïc Serra as technical director and Jérôme D'Ambrosio as deputy. He also promoted Bryan Bozzi as Leclerc's race engineer, who was instrumental in Leclerc's victory at Monaco 2024.

2025 season presents challenges with Hamilton's arrival

The start of 2025 has been challenging for Ferrari despite the addition of Lewis Hamilton, who replaced Sainz. The team has managed only two podiums in the first eight races, with no wins so far. Hamilton has achieved a sixth place as his best result in his first five races with the team.

Internal tensions have emerged with Leclerc expressing doubts about the SF-25's performance, while Hamilton has shown his frustration publicly. Both drivers, however, have defended Vasseur's work against external criticism.

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Pressure to accelerate technical improvements from management

Ferrari management, led by John Elkann and Vigna, had pressured to accelerate technical improvements to the car. Vasseur chose to stick with the original plan, saving major updates like the rear suspension for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

The team faces a considerable deficit against McLaren of approximately 190 points in the constructors' championship. Ferrari risks ending a season without victories, something unusual for the Maranello team in recent years.