Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur is unimpressed by the public criticism of his drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
The 2025 Formula 1 season was disappointing for Ferrari. No wins, only fourth place in the constructors’ championship. Last year, the Scuderia lost the title to McLaren on the final day. Expectations remained high, and the disappointment was correspondingly great.
Leclerc and Hamilton finished fifth and sixth in the drivers’ championship. After many sessions, both seemed frustrated. In Brazil, the seven-time world champion spoke of a nightmare after a double retirement. The mood remained tense.
Elkann responded with clear words. Drivers should concentrate on driving and talk less, he said. The statement sparked widespread debate. Vasseur, however, remains calm. He is not particularly interested in what happens in the TV zone.
Criticism is normal
“I don’t pay attention to the reactions in front of the camera,” said Vasseur after the race in Abu Dhabi. “The important thing is that the drivers come to us and drive the team to achieve better results together.”
Emotions on the radio are part of it. Leclerc criticizes himself, the team, all areas. Vasseur has known him for years and is familiar with this behavior. “Charles has always been like this. He has always complained about everything,” explains the team boss. But this dissatisfaction drives him forward.
“The DNA is to work better. Whether it’s P4, P3 or P1 doesn’t matter,” says Vasseur. The decisive factor remains the ambition. This attitude should continue in the debrief. A better car, a better team, progress everywhere. That’s the only way Ferrari will improve.
Vasseur goes even further. He actively encourages criticism. For him, this is the way back to the top, especially with a view to the new 2026 regulations. “I would be devastated if the drivers told me we were doing a good job,” he explains.
“Their DNA and my DNA is to push the team,” says Vasseur. Leclerc and Hamilton should come and apply pressure. In every area, everywhere. The list of areas for improvement remains long. There is no comfort zone.
In 2024, Ferrari fought for the title until the very last corner. The reaction remained the same. Leclerc demanded improvements in the simulator, in the setup, in aerodynamics. A standing order that never ends.
“That’s the DNA of their job and our sport,” concludes Vasseur. “I’m not shocked when they come to me and say, ‘Fred, we need to improve here.’ That’s exactly what we demand of them.”
