Fred Vasseur said Ferrari had to respond publicly to speculation about his future because the Formula 1 team needed stability and a calmer working environment.
Ferrari has backed its team principal, while drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have also supported him.
Speaking during Friday’s FIA press conference at Sepang, Vasseur said the volume of rumors had prevented Ferrari from working with the required focus. He also described some of the criticism directed at him as personal.
Ferrari moved to stop the speculation
Discussion about Vasseur’s position intensified around the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend after former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner expressed interest in a role at Ferrari. That prompted speculation linking Horner with Vasseur’s job.
Before the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia weekend, Ferrari held a media call and made clear that Vasseur retained the support of the team, chairman John Elkann and chief executive Benedetto Vigna.
Asked why Ferrari considered a public response necessary, Vasseur said the continuing coverage was affecting the team’s ability to work.
“When you see the noise and all the rumours in the press all the week, I think as a team we need to work in serenity. And it was absolutely not the case.”
Vasseur said Ferrari needed to act or risk facing the same questions throughout the Sepang weekend. He identified stability, calm and focus as the immediate requirements for the team.
Leclerc and Hamilton back their team principal
Leclerc and Hamilton supported Vasseur in their Thursday media appearances. Leclerc called the discussion surrounding the team principal “not nice” and “disrespectful,” while Hamilton described Vasseur as a “fantastic leader.”
Hamilton also said there were changes he would make to Ferrari’s structure, although he declined to identify them publicly. Asked about those remarks, Vasseur said continual development and recruitment were normal requirements for a Formula 1 team.
He rejected the idea of singling out an individual for Ferrari’s recent difficulties.
“In the good moment, we are winning as a team, in the bad moment, we are suffering as a team, and I don’t want to speak about single individual or whatever.”
Ferrari has won two Grands Prix in 2026. Hamilton won the Barcelona-Catalunya race in June, and Leclerc won the British Grand Prix in July. Vasseur said Ferrari had started the season positively but had struggled during the most recent races and hoped planned development would help it recover.
Vasseur says improvement must continue
Vasseur said recruitment and organizational development are ongoing processes rather than evidence of a particular problem inside Ferrari. He said teams must continue trying to improve regardless of whether results are good or bad.
He also said Ferrari had recruited extensively, as its rivals had, and maintained that Hamilton’s observations about possible changes should not be interpreted as criticism of one person or department.
Vasseur reiterated that Ferrari’s objective remained winning more races and competing for the championship, while acknowledging that its current performance was insufficient to meet those goals.
Relationship with Ferrari leadership remains strong
Asked whether organizational changes were required, Vasseur said he remained in frequent contact with Elkann and Vigna and had no complaint about Ferrari’s management structure.
“Honestly, the relationship that I have with my bosses, Benedetto and John, is a very good one. We are in daily contact, and I can’t complain at all about the organisation.”
He added that every team principal would want more resources and recruitment because Formula 1 requires constant improvement. Vasseur said that desire was separate from the way Ferrari is organized.
Personal criticism crosses a line
Vasseur said he understood the scrutiny attached to leading Ferrari before accepting the position. However, he drew a distinction between pressure associated with the job and personal attacks.
He also said his responsibility included defending Ferrari personnel during difficult periods, just as the team had defended him. That collective approach, he said, should apply in both success and adversity.
“Now honestly, I knew that what I will get [with this job], I’m not surprised at all. But sometimes the attacks are a bit personal – and this is not good.”
Ferrari’s public backing leaves Vasseur in charge as the team continues the Sepang weekend. The next test is whether Ferrari’s developments can produce the performance recovery Vasseur said the team is seeking.
