Fred Vasseur has admitted that working at Ferrari is not easy. His statement comes amid recent firing rumours that have surrounded him. In an interview with Sky Italia after Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying, Vasseur addressed the speculation.
"It's hard to work at Ferrari, but also for all the team members," Vasseur said. "Last week we had to read that someone will be fired. F1 is a huge challenge. We are 4 teams fighting in cents. Today Russell made the difference, but we usually fight in cents. Certainly the lack of serenity does not help the team, but things are like that and we simply have to keep working."
Rumours of intra-team friction at Ferrari have been swirling. Lewis Hamilton recently rubbished reports in Italian media claiming he had called for replacements at Ferrari after conceding his bid to win a record eighth world championship this year was over following his retirement at the Spanish Grand Prix. The speculation was further fueled by Christian Horner admitting that a "dream" role at Ferrari is the only F1 job that would tempt him to return to the pit wall without an ownership stake. The former Red Bull team principal has been increasingly linked with a shock F1 return at Ferrari in recent months, and now he has seemingly publicly offered his services to Ferrari’s top brass.
Vasseur himself was handed a new multi-year contract extension in July 2025. However, pressure has been mounting, particularly over his leadership and handling of recent tension between Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. In Baku qualifying, Leclerc claimed second but was over eight tenths adrift of Mercedes’ George Russell, while Hamilton could only manage sixth.
"It was a complicated session for everyone, but compared to yesterday the temperature dropped a lot and the first three all made a different strategy. And it doesn't happen very often that there are three different strategies between the first three teams," Vasseur explained. "We and Mercedes made two attempts in a row, McLaren made one plus one. But that's how it went. Surely with the characteristics of this track, the low grip, the wind and the lower temperature we knew everything would be more at the limit, but others have chosen differently from us."
Vasseur also highlighted Hamilton's difficulties in qualifying. "Lewis had a contact with the wall on the first lap of Q3 and this forced him to chase. In addition, the drivers were all in a different sequence, with Lewis finding himself alone and without a trail. This cost him 1 or 2 tenths and would probably have recovered a position," he added. "The race will be long, we will have to have a strong and constant step."
Ferrari are certainly under the spotlight. With Mercedes appearing too strong in Baku, Vasseur insisted his team will keep fighting until the end. "If we look at these qualifications, surely Mercedes seems too strong. But surely we will fight and push until the end and the race is always a little different. It's true that since Free Practice 1 Russell seemed unbeatable this weekend, with a super pace. But the race is another story. The same conditions could occur, of course, but we will do our best."
Pressure at Ferrari is nothing new, but with firing rumours and internal tension, Vasseur is demanded to stay focused and lead the team out of a difficult situation. The race in Baku will be the next test.
Baca Juga
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