Fred Vasseur satisfied with new Ferrari structure, but everyone is under scrutiny
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Ferrari, Fred Vasseur speaks to the press
The Christmas tree and glitter, a holiday lunch under spring-like sunlight, tortellini in capon broth, and beef medallions with a possible “vegetarian alternative”: everything feels like a movie. Round tables spaced well apart, with technicians alternating to answer every curiosity. There are new faces, such as Jerome D’Ambrosio, 38 years old, a Belgian with a Neapolitan grandfather who, surprisingly, has been the new deputy head of the Ferrari Racing Division for a few months, and Loic Serra, 52 years old, a Frenchman with Sardinian and Venetian grandparents, the new technical director from Mercedes. Familiar faces are also present, like Enrico Gualtieri (head of engines), Diego Ioverno (sporting director), and Mattia Togninalli (head of track engineering).
The Ferrari of tomorrow is showing its best face with the engines off, with its top official, Frederic Vasseur, finally satisfied with the structure he has managed to assemble and from which there are now no excuses left—world titles are expected. After all, what better historic opportunity to compete against a Red Bull disrupted by internal disputes and the loss of key personnel, no longer the daunting opponent of 12 months ago, and a Mercedes without Lewis Hamilton, Loic Serra, and others, which will need time to rebuild?
The upcoming championship seems to be smooth sailing for the Scuderia. However, in this Formula 1 prone to twists and turns, and given a McLaren that emerged from nowhere and, without the resources of the others, managed to secure the Constructors’ Championship after 26 years, anything is possible. This time, Ferrari has the advantage of finishing the 2024 Formula 1 season brilliantly and should continue in the same way, considering that the technical regulations do not change significantly. In short, the opportunity is ripe, and missing it would be a failure. There is no need to sugarcoat the objectives. This, on the one hand, creates pressure, but on the other, the favorable elements listed above are expected to make things much easier.
Fred Vasseur knows he is about to face a trial by fire with much at stake, but he is confident that he has made the right moves to aim high, aided by a company that has allowed him dozens of hires, enriching Ferrari and depleting others. It will take time to integrate people, but it’s not just the value of the new technicians that instills confidence. A fundamental element often overlooked is the massive arrival of external experience and knowledge—a breath of fresh air, circulation of ideas, and debates that may be unpalatable to those who have been in Maranello for years but were indispensable to leap into the future. Ferrari, like other teams, knows that the real revolution awaits in 2026 with regulations that will change significantly, requiring a fresh start. In this sense, the 2025 Ferrari is coexisting with the one for the upcoming years in terms of design, planning, and development—a challenging task requiring fertile and diverse minds to move beyond the obvious.
In a very corporate atmosphere, stingy with smiles and with predictable, rehearsed statements, a practical and direct Fred Vasseur emerged, focused on essentials. He openly declared that Lewis Hamilton would not receive a personalized presentation at Ferrari with festive press coverage but would instead integrate into the Scuderia “without making a show” (no specific time or place was given). There were no details about the genesis of his hiring, except that Fred convinced the seven-time champion by presenting him with a long-term project, which was enthusiastically accepted, so “in the end, it wasn’t hard to convince him to take on the challenge.”
As for Lewis Hamilton’s underwhelming results in recent races, “there's no concern; they were circumstantial, and when he had the tools, he delivered excellent performances.” Loic Serra, who was alongside Hamilton all these years, reinforced the point: “Lewis is the same as before; he'll surprise everyone with his performance. Don’t doubt it.” And Charles Leclerc? Fred Vasseur gave him a light pat on the cheek: “He’s improved, progressed, and is on the right path.” Regarding the inevitable rivalry between the two—a topic causing some internal anxiety—he added that “competition between drivers benefits performance. It's better to have two drivers fighting at the front than two at the back.”
Clear words, no wasted time. The presentation of the “completely new car” is scheduled for February 19. After that, it will be immediately evident in Bahrain and then in Australia on March 14 whether the work done has been excellent. However, judging by the atmosphere, doubts are few, and positive signs are abundant, pointing in one direction only: the championship. So, Merry Christmas, happy (short) holidays, and all the best. Remember, though, that Enzo Ferrari often remarked that the certainty-induced intoxication before the car hit the track concerned him far more than the inevitable issues that arose when a new car first rolled out.
— see video above —
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