Ferrari has extended Frederic Vasseur’s contract: President John Elkann explains the reasons behind the decision
There were repeated rumors that Ferrari might sack its team boss Frederic Vasseur, but instead, the Scuderia expressed its utmost confidence in the Frenchman by offering him a new contract. Vasseur will continue to lead the Italian team in the coming years, as was announced in the days leading up to Hungary.
President John Elkann spoke in detail about the contract extension and the reasons behind it on the sidelines of the Grand Prix. The decision to extend Vasseur’s contract in the long term was not a reaction to short-term results, but the result of a fundamentally grown relationship of trust.
Elkann emphasized to formula1.com: “We have worked really well with Fred, and when you work well together, it’s important to keep going.”
For Elkann, continuity is a key factor for success in today’s Formula 1. And he makes it clear that Ferrari is not only satisfied with Vasseur, but sees him as the right man to establish a lasting era of success:
“The reality is that we all want to build on these years. And we know that in Formula 1 you need commitment, trust and time – and you have to make sure that time is on your side.”
Vasseur took over the job at Ferrari in early 2023 after a bumpy 2022 season in which strategic mistakes and a lack of leadership structure had shaken the Scuderia. Since then, the Frenchman has reorganized the structures in the background with his calm, matter-of-fact manner – which is also evident in increased consistency on the track.
For Elkann, it is precisely this internal effect that is crucial: “The natural development of the relationship with Fred—it has become a very strong relationship, and you can really feel it at Ferrari. The importance of how much stability affects the results is palpable. That’s exactly what we all want.”
