Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has finally addressed the relentless speculation surrounding the future of the Italian team. In a recent interview, Vasseur opened up about the damaging effects of media speculation and how it disrupted Ferrari’s season.
This season, rumors swirled around Vasseur’s future, the team’s technical leadership and Charles Leclerc’s contract situation. Vasseur admits that these rumours left him furious at time.
Ferrari Boss Breaks Silence on Toxic Rumors
Frenchman Fred Vasseur has served as team principal of Ferrari since 2023. He previously worked with Renault, Sauber and Alfa Romeo. However, this frustrating Ferrari season led to rumours that his position was under threat. Ferrari soon confirmed that they extended his stay on a multi-year deal, bringing an end to the storm of rumors.
When asked whether his recent contract extension would allow him to work more peacefully, Vasseur was blunt: “Rumours caused the turmoil. I didn’t start them, the media did. Neither Ferrari nor I spoke. But today, you can’t avoid such interference.“
Ferrari have handed their Team Principal Fred Vasseur a new multi-year contract#F1 https://t.co/iUzRsRbi1N
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 31, 2025
He stopped short of condemning all journalists but criticised the increasingly aggressive nature of reporting in the digital age. He went on to say, “I don’t want to tar all journalists with the same brush. But with the internet, reporting has become much more aggressive. There’s a pressure to generate clicks“.
Vasseur revealed that the tipping point came during the Canadian Gran Prix weekend when unfolded reports suggested that Ferrari’s technical director, Loïc Serra, was underperforming.
“When these rumors first surfaced in Canada, I was really angry. Because they went too far. My technical director, Loïc Serra, was accused of not doing a good job. And yet, the 2025 car was practically ready when Loïc started working for us”.
Vasseur suggested that the constant media frenzy even delayed his own contract discussions with Ferrari. He told the media, “Without this background noise, my talks with Ferrari would have been much quicker”.
Fred Vasseur Shuts Down Leclerc Rumors
Another major distraction was the constant speculation about Charles Leclerc’s future. Persistent rumours linked him to Mercedes, who have yet to confirm their driver lineup for 2026.
Vasseur dismissed these claims as irresponsible. He claimed “The story with Charles Leclerc was similar. Some people regularly wrote that Charles was going to Mercedes. Nobody cared that he repeatedly confirmed he had a long-term contract with Ferrari.“
Charles Leclerc Reveals Sole Focus at Ferrari as He Plots Next Move With Team Principal Fred Vasseur
Leclerc himself had publicly denied the Mercedes rumors multiple time. Yet, the narrative persisted. This added unnecessary pressure on the Italian team, who were already struggling with technical issues on the track.
Vasseur emphasised that such speculation was not only baseless but also harmful to the team’s morale. Vasseur claimed all of this outside noise “has an impact on the team.”
Now, with his future officially secured, Fred Vasseur hopes the team can solely focus on performance. While Formula 1 thrives on drama, the human and operational costs of unfounded speculation are real. As Ferrari prepare for the second half of 2025, Vasseur will attempt to move forward with the team with the speculation finally put to bed.
