Ferrari bosses urged to make a decisive call about Vassuer's future
F1 NewsMonday, 23 June 2025 at 18:58
The future of Ferrari Formula 1 team principal Fred Vasseur remains a major talking point in Italy, after the country's two main sports media launched a scathing criticism of the Scuderia under the Frenchman's watch.
The furore started before the Canadian Grand Prix when Italy's media heavyweights Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere della Sera asked uncomfortable questions of Ferrari, in the light of a poor start to their season, with only Lewis Hamilton's win in the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Race a highlight.
While the seven-time F1 world champion is finding life after Mercedes a tad different at the great Scuderia, and the way they go racing. Charles Leclerc has been better with the more familiar surroundings. He is also 'homegrown' at Ferrari, thus has adapted to the disappointing SF-25 better than his teammate, as stats so far show.
When Ferrari is in crisis or on the verge of one, the best place to make sense of it all is a visit to the mouthpiece of Tifosi, F1 veteran scribe Leo Turrini, whose essential Profondo Rosso column on the trials and tribulations of his beloved team is a must-read.
It's a bit rich to blame Vasseur for everything but...
Diving into the current scenario at Maranello, Turrini wrote in his latest blog post:
Let’s not pretend the SF-25 in Montreal delivered any thrills. On the one weekend when McLaren looked beatable, the Ferraris came home fifth and sixth. Either you’re a regime trumpet-blower, or you stop the nonsense out of basic self-respect. Let’s be serious.
One. If Ferrari’s last F1 world titles — drivers or constructors — date back almost twenty years, well then, it’s a bit rich to blame Vasseur for everything.
Two. Vasseur has shaped the team exactly how he wanted. The 2025 results are dire. I’ve been saying it and writing it for months. Fred has to take responsibility. End of.
Three. Let’s set aside the clumsy outbursts of the country priest. I’ve been a journalist since I was fifteen (!), and I never thought I was the one winning titles for [Jean] Todt. Let alone imagine that my younger colleagues today are somehow causing Vasseur to lose them. I find it laughable (and I’m restraining myself!) that someone could even remotely entertain such nonsense.
After every Grand Prix, the fierce Penguin would speak with the media for an hour
Jean Todt, for the record, couldn’t stand the free press. But never once did he blame it for his years of defeat — and there were defeats. After every Grand Prix, the fierce Penguin (as he was nicknamed) would speak with the media for an hour.
Four. Ferrari’s 2025 is a disaster — that’s not up for debate. But I’m not calling for Vasseur’s head. The reasoning is straightforward.
If Ferrari ownership believes Fred is the right man, then they must extend his contract. No ifs, no buts. We’re on the brink of a major regulatory change. If there’s faith in his leadership, it must be expressed clearly and without hesitation.
If, on the other hand, ownership has concluded that Vasseur is the wrong man in the wrong place, then he must be replaced — as soon as possible. Be it with Coletta from WEC or someone else, that’s their call.
On one condition. The 2026 car is already ready, or nearly so. If you send Fred packing now, then you, John Elkann, must publicly state that the new boss, whoever it is, will not be held accountable, for better or worse, for the “immediate” results. Because they won’t have had a hand in what’s already done.
Ferrari doesn’t need pathetic court-appointed defenders. What it needs are honest witnesses to the truth. "Thank you,"
Read [and bookmark!] Leo Turrini's Profondo Rosso column here>>>
Latest News
Loading
