Vasseur amid Ferrari politics: 'It's inevitable'

It seems to be chaos at Ferrari after just one race in 2023 under the leadership of Frédéric Vasseur. Meanwhile, Scuderia's new team boss has responded to all the rumours circulating and debunked most of them.

It started with rumours that chief aerodynamicist David Sanchez would be leaving. Then came rumours of Ferrari's top driver Charles Leclerc requesting a meeting with Ferrari boss John Elkann about the team's current form. Added to this were stories that Laurent Mekies would also want to leave and that Vasseur would not be given enough space by board chairman Benedetto Vigna to do his job.

In an interview with Autohebdo.fr Vasseur addresses most of these rumours. Vasseur starts with Sanchez. Indeed, this rumour seems to be true: "It is inevitable; that there are people who were good with Mattia Binotto and now choose to leave. That doesn't bother me. There are others who, on the contrary, have feared for their future."

Vasseur says he does not recognise the story that he has too little power or room to manoeuvre within the team to do his job: "I have the power and the resources that I have not had before. That's how it is now." That Leclerc has spoken to Elkann is not surprising, according to Vasseur: "After the winter tests, we had talks with the drivers, Elkann and Vigna. We will meet again after Imola. Those are scheduled meetings..."

Vasseur's immediate clarification of the situation at Ferrari seems to be a first sign of more transparency at the team. By debunking or nuancing the rumours so quickly, further speculation and unrest within the team may be avoided. Vasseur: "I find it hard to understand why the team boss becomes a target after just one race."