16/08/2025 07:25
Charles Leclerc insists the stability of Fred Vasseur staying with
Ferrari is "very important" for the health and future of the
Italian team. The 56-year-old was handed a multi-year contract
extension in July, putting to rest any lingering doubt about the
safety of his job as team principal at the Scuderia. Prior to that,
there had been considerable noise surrounding his position, with
rumours circulating that then-Red Bull boss Christian Horner was
being tapped up for the role. However, the Frenchman has been - and
will continue to be - an integral part of Ferrari plan to restore
itself to its former glory. The Prancing Horse came painfully close
to securing a first constructors' championship since 2008 last
year, and the nucleus of Leclerc, Vasseur and Lewis Hamilton is
known to be strong at the centre of the Maranello-based squad.
Although the current campaign has broadly been viewed as a
let-down, in large part due to the sky-high expectations at the
start of the season with Hamilton joining straight after the team
finished just 14 points behind McLaren in the standings, Ferrari is
still second in the constructors' fight and Leclerc is "optimistic
for the future" with Vasseur now definitely staying put. "I'm not
the one making the decisions, but I think stability is always very
important," Leclerc told media, including RacingNews365 . "Fred is
the person we look up to and the person leading the team. To have
him for many more years is definitely a good thing, also because in
Formula 1 it takes time to build something, especially a successful
team. "I'm very happy about that. Knowing that I'll be able to have
Fred alongside me for more years makes me optimistic for the
future." Lightening 'difficult situations' The eight-time grand
prix winner touched upon Vasseur's sense of humour, an ingredient
he believes to be central to making the team feel like a "family."
He pointed to how his boss' approach can help "lighten" difficult
scenarios that arise. "He's definitely very funny," the Monegasque
driver said of Vasseur. "I'm sure it plays a part in the team.
"We've got some very funny guys within the team as well. However,
we are obviously here to work. It helps. Whenever we have team
dinners, we are having a good time, and it really feels like a
family. For me, it definitely feels like a family. "I've been
growing up in Ferrari basically, and I'm still there. Fred has
integrated into the team extremely well. Now he's leading it with
his sense of humour as well, which sometimes can lighten some
difficult situations. "Again, I'm really happy about Fred's
reconfirmation within the team."
