After a second place finish in the constructor’s championship in 2022, Ferrari made the decision to relieve Mattia Binotto of his team principal duties in favor of Fred Vasseur. The former Alfa Romeo team principal was the man they hoped would bring them back to the promised land, and while he’s gotten close, he hasn’t quite gotten there.
Despite a very strong performance in 2024, which saw Ferrari nearly claim its first constructors’ title since 2007, Fred Vasseur has been on the hot seat. They haven’t been as competitive as they’d hoped in 2025, and questions about whether he’d return as team principal in 2026 started to arise. However, it appears he’ll be back.
Fred Vasseur and Ferrari are nearing a contract extension
In Silverstone, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna confirmed that Vasseur and the team were in discussions about a new deal that would keep him with the team through at least the 2026 season.
“Fred is our team principal, it’s July and we’re having positive discussions. There’s trust and we have time,” Vigna said.
This suggested that the team is confident in the direction Vasseur is leading them. Now, Motorsport.com Italy is reporting that a deal is imminent and expected to be announced soon.
By extending Vasseur, Ferrari ensure internal stability heading into the new regulations, which begin next season. The 2026 car will be completely different than the 2025 car, and will be built exclusively by the people Vasseur hired.
Ferrari and Haas will be the only two teams with a Ferrari power unit in 2026, so if all goes well, they could have a step up on the rest of the field at the beginning of the new regulations era.
When the news is announced, it’s very likely we won’t know how long the extension is. It could be just one more season, or if they’re really confident in Vasseur, he could get a multi-year deal.
Ferrari’s success under Vasseur
In Vasseur’s first year in red, he led Ferrari to a P3 finish in the constructors’ championship. The battle between Ferrari and Mercedes for second place came down to the last race, but Ferrari lost out to Mercedes by just three points.
In year two, Ferrari got off to a hot start, scoring podium finishes in seven of the first eight races and winning two of those. They cooled off a bit during the middle of the year, but after McLaren took the lead in the constructors’ standings, they went back on the charge.
The 2024 constructor’s championship came down to the final race. Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen collided on lap one, opening the door for Ferrari to steal the championship from McLaren, but a super drive from Lando Norris helped secure the title and keep the trophy out of Ferrari’s hands once again.
Entering 2025, many hoped that with the addition of Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari could challenge McLaren for the championship. That hasn’t happened, but they’ve overtaken Mercedes for second place and look to finish as the runner-ups for the second straight season.
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With a deal expected soon, it’s all but official that Vasseur will be the one leading Ferrari into this new era of regulations. They hope he’s the man who can deliver the team’s first championship in nearly two decades, but nobody knows what’ll happen in 2026.
