Ferrari Confirms Fred Vasseur's Leadership with Multi-Year Contract Amid Backing from Leclerc and Hamilton

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Ferrari Solidifies Commitment to Team Principal Fred Vasseur

On Thursday, Ferrari announced a multi-year contract extension for team principal Fred Vasseur to quash speculation about his position ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix. With rumors swirling in recent months about Vasseur’s future, the Scuderia's top drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, have expressed their unequivocal support for the Frenchman.

Leclerc Praises Vasseur’s Vision and Emotional Stability

Charles Leclerc, who was already part of the Ferrari squad when Vasseur took the reins in late 2022, emphasized the importance of maintaining stability at the helm. Speaking at the Hungaroring, the Monegasque driver was candid about his satisfaction with the announcement.

"I'm really, really happy," Leclerc said. "It's not that it's coming as a surprise, but I'm really happy. Especially in the past month, there were quite a few rumors, like it's always the case around the team. To finally have the official news out is important and I'm really happy.”

For Leclerc, Vasseur's greatest strength lies in his ability to remain composed under pressure, a quality that he feels has benefited the Maranello-based squad immensely.

"What's very difficult within Ferrari is the emotion is very much part of the daily job because Italian people in general, and that's what makes Ferrari so special, are extremely passionate about Ferrari," Leclerc added. "Fred really knows how to leave his emotions aside and have a clear vision of where we are at no matter how much noise there is around the team. This is very, very important.”

Leclerc lauded Vasseur’s leadership in instilling clarity and a cohesive vision at Ferrari while also applauding his ability to maximize the potential of those working behind the scenes.

“One of [Fred’s qualities] is also to extract the maximum out of every single person at the factory and this, when you put everything together, it makes a big difference,” he remarked.

Hamilton: “Fred Was the Right Choice”

Lewis Hamilton, who joined Ferrari this season after Vasseur successfully lured him away from Mercedes, has also been vocal in his belief that Vasseur is the right man for the job. The seven-time world champion reiterated his confidence in the team principal who played a pivotal role in his move to Ferrari.

"There's nothing else to add, I told you before that it was the right choice," Hamilton stated during the press conference. "Fred signed me here, and we wanted to work together."

While acknowledging that he is still adapting to Vasseur’s methods, Hamilton had no qualms about his decision to join Ferrari under Vasseur's leadership:

"I'm still learning -- trying to learn -- the way that Fred likes to work, but I have absolute confidence in Fred, as I've always said."

A Cooler Head in Maranello’s Raging Passion

Both drivers underlined Vasseur’s ability to temper the emotional fervor that runs through Ferrari, especially during challenging periods.

"He definitely changed the way we are working on different things," Leclerc pointed out. "Where Fred made the biggest difference is his vision, his overall vision. This, he embedded it into the team and that's very important.”

Leclerc added that Ferrari’s trademark passion can sometimes be a double-edged sword.

"The beauty of Ferrari is the fact that emotionally it's always intense, but it can also harm us in some ways, especially when tougher times arrive,” he explained. "Fred has always had very cold blood in those moments and helped the team to be a little bit more lucid. And that's the biggest thing Fred has brought to the team."

Looking Ahead

As Ferrari heads into the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, the updated contract ensures Vasseur’s tenure will stretch beyond the end of this season, providing much-needed stability during a crucial period for the team’s development. With both Leclerc and Hamilton firmly in his corner, the stage is set for Vasseur to guide the Scuderia toward a resurgence in the Formula One championship standings.

All eyes will undoubtedly be on how Ferrari performs this weekend, but with Vasseur’s leadership no longer in question, the focus remains firmly on the track rather than the boardroom.

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