Ferrari's Frederic Vasseur hits back at Italian media after rumours of getting replaced

22:01, 13 Jun

Updated: 22:34, 13 Jun

byKada Sarkozi

Leading up to the Canadian Grand Prix, in Italian media, Frederic Vasseur's position at Ferrari has been questioned. The team principal reflected to these rumours in Montreal.

Ahead of the weekend in North America, Corriere della Sera published a rumour that Antonello Coletta could replace the Frenchman at the team. Asked about the matter, the Scuderia responded to GPblog explaining there is no leg to it.

Now, Vasseur also shared his thoughts on the matter and the aforementioned rumours. "First I have to stay calm because I will have to finish [with going] to the stewards," the team principal began explaining that his opinion would not match the FIA's guidelines.

"It's some Italian media, it's not all Italian media. It's not about myself, I think, because this I can manage. It's more about the people of the team. To throw their name like this, I think it's just disrespectful for them, for the family. And we had the case last year with the chief of aero already."

Vasseur questions media's goal

According to the Frenchman, the Italian media are certainly not helping the team this way.

"We had some other names this season. I don't know the target. I don't understand the target. Perhaps it's to give s*** to the team, but in this case I don't see the point. Perhaps it's for them the only way to exist. This is probably more the reason. But it's really hurting the team."

He added: "At one stage, it's a lack of focus. And when you are fighting for the championship, every single detail makes the difference. And from the beginning of the weekend, we are just speaking about this. And if it's their target to put the team in this situation, they reached their goal. But I think it's really, it's not like this that we'll be able to win a championship, and at least not with this kind of journalist around us."

Even as he swore once, Vasseur then said: "I won't go to the stewards for this. So far."

Frederic Vasseur is not happy with the media 'hurting his team'

Vasseur worried about the people he is responsible for

Vasseur explained he expected that he has to deal with the Italian media being a key figure at Ferrari, but finds it disrespectful because of the other people working for the team.

"No, no, but to be the team principal that I knew when I joined, when I took the position, that you are exposed and this I think it's quite easy to manage. It's more for the people of the team, they are working very hard and to decide one day that this one will be replaced, this one will be replaced, this one is useless."

"Honestly, it's very, very harsh because these journalists, I'm not putting everybody in the same basket, but they have to consider that these people, they have family, they have wife, they have kids, and this is completely disrespectful. Now I don't want to speak anymore about this stupid [thing]," he concluded.