Is Vasseur the key to Wolff's F1 dream? 'Anything else would've been stupid'
John Elkann with Fred Vasseur - Photo: Race Pictures
Updated: 17:22, 10 Aug 2025
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A filmmaker with a soft spot for Ronnie Peterson, Gilles Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and above all, Tazio Nuvolari and Ayrton Senna, is also a diehard Formula One fan since the age of 4 (mid-90's). An avid researcher of the past of Grand Prix Racing since before it was even named F1, and with a thirst for knowledge of the ins and outs of the actuality of the sport, as well as for the technical aspects that define it, is a member of GPblog since 2023, where he has put his love of racing to good use.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has hailed Ferrari’s move to keep Frédéric Vasseur at the helm, describing the decision as a no-brainer, and dreams of a particularly enticing Ferrari F1 scenario.
Wolff hails Vasseur renewal: 'Anything other than that would've been really stupid'
“Any other choice would have been truly stupid,” Wolff told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I’ve known Fred since we were in our early twenties, and I know his value as a motorsports man. I know his entrepreneurial vision and his strength.
"Having someone like him on your team is a blessing, and you have to remember how much time it takes, in F1, to create a successful project.”
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Vasseur, who took charge at Maranello in early 2023, has been credited with stabilising Ferrari’s operations and improving performance after years of inconsistency.
After last year, a legendary McLaren vs Ferrari title fight seemed to be underway this year again. However, the team's inability to come to grips with their 2025 car and McLaren's superlative MCL39 made this an impossibility.
Wolff's Ferrari 'dream' revealed
Wolff, whose Mercedes team has also endured a challenging campaign, remains in the fight vs Ferrari behind McLaren, albeit if only for second place, something the Austrian hopes it will change in the future.
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Who does Wolff want Mercedes to fight for titles in the future? The Mercedes team boss and CEO answered without hesitation: “The answer is simple: Ferrari.”
“Seeing Ferrari against Mercedes would be fantastic. A classic. And then Lewis (Hamilton) and Charles (Leclerc) against Kimi (Antonelli) and George (Russell), an incredible challenge.
"An Italian driver against an Italian car: can you imagine that? I have no doubt this duel will happen, next year or in the future. We will experience it, and it will be fantastic.”
The prospect of Hamilton and Leclerc facing off against Antonelli and Russell would revive one of Formula 1’s most iconic rivalries indeed: Ferrari vs Mercedes, something Wolff believes would only do the sport good.
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Austrian Grand Prix
Overview
Friday 26.06.26
Practice 1
11:30 AM
Practice 2
03:00 PM
Saturday 27.06.26
Practice 3
10:30 AM
Qualification
02:00 PM
Sunday 28.06.26
Race
01:00 PM
Friday 26.06.26
Practice 1
Fri 11:30 AM
Practice 2
Fri 03:00 PM
Saturday 27.06.26
Practice 3
Sat 10:30 AM
Qualification
Sat 02:00 PM
Sunday 28.06.26
Race
Sun 01:00 PM
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F1-stand 2026
Season
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | MercedesMER | 156 | |
2 | FerrariFER | 115 | |
3 | MercedesMER | 106 | |
4 | FerrariFER | 75 | |
5 | McLarenMCL | 73 | |
6 | McLarenMCL | 68 | |
7 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 55 | |
8 | AlpineALP | 41 | |
9 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 34 | |
10 | Racing BullsRCB | 28 |
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