09/08/2025 11:30
Toto Wolff has stated it would have been "really stupid" for
Ferrari to have done anything other than extend the contract of
team principal Fred Vasseur. The Maranello-based squad penned the
Frenchman to a multi-year extension to his existing deal between
the Belgian and Hungarian grands prix, a move fully backed by his
Mercedes counterpart. Vasseur succeeded Mattia Binotto at the helm
of the Scuderia for the 2023 F1 season but has thus far been unable
to return the Prancing Horse to its former glory. Last year,
Ferrari came painfully close to securing its first title since
2008, but ultimately fell 14 points short of eventual constructors'
champions McLaren. That, coupled with the arrival of Lewis Hamilton
from Mercedes, saw expectations reach a new high heading into the
current campaign. However, whilst its Woking-based rival has found
new gear, Ferrari's performance has plateaued, and the seven-time
F1 drivers' champion has underwhelmed. That has heaped the pressure
on Vasseur, despite the Scuderia still sitting second in the
standings, to the point that there was widespread speculation he
could be fired. One rumour suggested he could be replaced by
now-departed Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. During that
difficult period, Wolff was forthright in his stance on Vasseur ,
praising him and imploring Ferrari to give him more time. Now that
his future has been secured, the Austrian has expanded on his prior
remarks, calling having a figure like Vasseur a "blessing" and
reiterating how long and arduous it can be to create a winning team
in F1. "Any other choice would have been really stupid," the
53-year-old said to La Gazzetta dello Sport on the call to hand
Vasseur a new deal. "I've known Fred since we were in our early
twenties, and I know his value as a motorsport man; I know his
entrepreneurial vision and his strength. "Having someone like him
in your team is a blessing, and you shouldn't forget how much time
it takes in Formula 1 to build a successful project."
