Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur opens up about how he deals with the pressure from the Italian press. The Scuderia is a national pride of Italy, and as a result, there is regular speculation about everything that happens behind the scenes in Maranello. ‘Everything is magnified in Italy,’ says Vasseur, who sees it as his primary task to protect his team.
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Frédéric Vasseur is starting his fourth season as Ferrari team principal, and during his time at the helm of the Scuderia, he has already been the subject of speculation several times. The Frenchman came under increasing pressure towards the end of the first half of the 2025 season when good results failed to materialize. However, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna expressed his confidence in Vasseur, and the Frenchman’s contract was extended. A season later, following the test days, Ferrari is primarily mentioned as one of the favorites for the title.
Vasseur, however, has now become accustomed to both the good and bad reports about the Italian team. “Everything is magnified in Italy, whether it is good or bad news,” the team principal tells Auto Hebdo. “We must constantly temper the positive euphoria and slow down the negativity.”
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‘That’s part of my job’
For the Frenchman, it is particularly important to protect the employees at Ferrari. “That’s part of my job,” Vasseur explains further. “I knew this when I signed. There is a special enthusiasm around the team that can easily cause you to lose your way, with people spending too much energy on the wrong things. I have to protect people from that.”
In addition, there is also a lot of speculation from the Italian media about the team, especially regarding contract length and stability. “You have to separate the rumors from reality,” Vasseur reveals his approach. “In Italy, you can have a fifteen-year contract, but what will never change is the attitude of the press. What counts is my relationship with Ferrari. I know exactly where I stand with the management. When these rumors have an impact on the team and our employees, then it is harmful and it bothers me. When people start talking about people who work in the shadows, I find that a lack of respect,” the Frenchman concludes.
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