20/06/2025 10:50
Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has warned Fred Vasseur
that he is at risk of being Ferrari's "next scapegoat" and blamed
for any of the outfit's wrongdoings. Ferrari has endured a
difficult start to the season and is the only top-four team yet to
secure a grand prix victory – Lewis Hamilton claimed the sprint win
in Shanghai. Despite ongoing problems with its SF-25 and general
consistent complaints from both Charles Leclerc and Hamilton, the
Maranello-based squad finds itself 16 points adrift of second-place
Mercedes in the constructors' title. Due to its recent struggles,
team principal Vasseur has been increasingly in the spotlight, and
found himself addressing reports from Italian media that his job is
at risk. Vasseur stressed the Italian media reports were
inaccurate and that he is not set to be axed; however, Steiner
cannot help but feel the Frenchman is under increasing pressure.
Ferrari has become renowned in recent years for making rash and
fast decisions when the expectations of chairman John Elkann are
not being met. "If we look at history, I think we can see he will
be the next scapegoat," Steiner told the Red Flags podcast. "I
don't know the press involved in this, I think, end of last week.
"So I don't know how true this story is, if it is true, but for
sure, he's under pressure. It's Ferrari. If you don't win in three
years, they put the pressure on to you. "I don't know how serious
it is that they want to get rid of him. I have no idea about that
one, but I think, now they are not second anymore, but when this
was written about Fred, they were still second in the world
championship. "It's not perfect, because perfect is number one. I
know that. But it's not really bad. I wouldn't say it is good, I'm
not saying it's really good."
