Fred Vasseur has acknowledged that working at Ferrari is challenging, as he responded to recent rumors surrounding the iconic Formula 1 team. Lewis Hamilton recently dismissed Italian media claims that he had requested changes at Ferrari after accepting that his pursuit of an unprecedented eighth world championship ended with his retirement at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Speculation about internal conflicts at Ferrari has grown alongside Christian Horner’s admission that leading Ferrari would be his “dream” job—the only F1 position that might lure him back to the pit wall without an ownership share. The former Red Bull team principal has been frequently linked with a surprising return to Ferrari, and he has now openly offered his availability to the team’s management if they express interest.
Vasseur, who secured a new multi-year contract in July 2025, has recently faced scrutiny over his leadership and the handling of tensions between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. “Working at Ferrari is tough, both for me and the whole team,” Vasseur told Sky Italia after qualifying at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. “Last week we read about possible firings. Formula 1 is an immense challenge, with four teams battling closely, often by mere hundredths of a second. Today Russell made a clear difference, but normally it’s much tighter. The lack of calm clearly impacts the team, but this is the situation, and we must just keep pushing forward.”
Leclerc qualified second in Baku but was over eight-tenths behind Mercedes’ George Russell, while Hamilton qualified in sixth. Vasseur explained that the session was difficult for everyone and highlighted the unusual scenario of the top three teams adopting three different strategies, influenced by a significant temperature drop and tricky track conditions.
He continued, “We and Mercedes each tried two consecutive attempts, while McLaren split theirs. Given the track’s low grip, wind, and cooler temperatures, the margins were extremely tight, and others chose differently than us. Mercedes looked very strong in qualifying, but the race always unfolds differently. Russell has been dominant since Practice 1, but we will keep fighting and doing our best.”
Regarding Hamilton’s tough qualifying, Vasseur noted that “Lewis hit the wall on his first Q3 lap, forcing him to play catch-up. Additionally, he was running alone without a slipstream, costing him one or two tenths that might have helped him gain a position. The race is long, and we’ll need consistent pace. Tire degradation at Baku is usually low and likely even less this year, making overtaking difficult—but we’ll see what happens.”
Fan Take: This insight into Ferrari’s internal struggles and the potential managerial shakeups highlights just how intense the pressure is at the sport’s most famous team. For fans, it signals a pivotal moment where leadership decisions could either end Ferrari’s woes or deepen the intensity of the F1 rivalry, dramatically shaping the championship battle ahead.
Source: www.crash.net
