Elkann: Ferrari’s rough season so far needs a strong finish

Elkann was speaking after backing Team Principal Fred Vasseur with a new multi-year deal to lead Ferrari into the future, which includes next year's massive Formula 1 rule change.

Into the third season of Vasseur at the helm, the great Scuderia currently sits second in the 2025 F1 Constructors’ Championship ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, but trails runaway leaders McLaren by 268 points after a mixed run of form across 13 races.

Speaking at the Hungaroring, Elkann said: “It’s the last race of the first part of the season, so it’s a good moment to be here with the team. It’s a good moment to reflect on what has been a hard start and, more importantly, just put the right foundations forward for the second part of the season, and really make sure that everyone goes energised to have a good break, which is needed, and really come back strong in the Netherlands.”

Ferrari have shown flashes of competitiveness, with Charles Leclerc staying on as the team’s long-term lead driver and Lewis Hamilton still adapting after his high-profile move from Mercedes. Vasseur, now in his second full season in charge, continues building cohesion within the organisation.

“We’ve had a rough season, and that is why it is really important to ensure that we end well and we start the second half very strong and full of energy,” Elkann said.

Reflecting on Ferrari’s culture and path to future success, Elkann continued: “Ferrari wants to win, has won, will win, when it’s able to get everyone together. What’s important in Ferrari is not the individual, but it’s the individuals.

“Those individuals, when they work together, they can do incredible things. That has been very much the case in Formula 1. We all remember when we were victorious, and we were victorious because there was a very strong sense that incredible individuals – from our engineers, our mechanics, our pilots, our team principal – were really individuals that worked together.

“So it’s not about the individual, but it’s about the collective effort of great individuals who can achieve even more together.”

Ferrari confirmed ahead of the weekend in Hungary that Fred Vasseur has been awarded a new multi-year contract, securing the Frenchman’s place at the helm beyond 2025. Elkann endorsed the decision as a continuation of a productive working relationship.

“We’ve really worked well with Fred, and when you work well, it’s important to continue working well,” he said. “The reality is that from the basis of these years, we all want to build more, and we know that, in Formula 1, times are such that what you really need is engagement, trust, and make sure that the time is there with you.”

Vasseur added: “The natural evolution of the relationship with Fred, which has been a very strong relationship and one that you can feel, and it’s palpable in Ferrari, just the importance of how stability makes a big impact on results. That’s really what we all want.”

Ferrari will aim to head into the summer break with a strong result in Budapest before regrouping for the second half of the season, starting at Zandvoort later this month.