Fred Vasseur Defends Ferrari: 'I'd Be Destroyed' if Drivers Were Happy

Fred Vasseur has firmly defended Ferrari’s internal culture following a disastrous 2025 season, stating he would be "destroyed" if Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc told him the team was doing a "good job." Despite finishing winless and slipping to fourth in the Constructors' Championship, the Team Principal views the drivers' relentless push for improvement as a positive sign rather than a cause for concern.

Why it matters:

After a promising 2024 campaign where Ferrari narrowly missed the title, the team faced a harsh reality check in 2025. Signing a seven-time champion raised the bar, but the season yielded zero wins in main races. Vasseur’s comments are crucial because they signal that the team remains focused on development rather than complacency, rejecting narratives that suggest friction between the drivers and the factory.

The details:

• 2025 Reality: Ferrari fell 435 points behind McLaren, with Hamilton enduring his first career season without a podium in a Grand Prix. His only highlights were a Sprint win in China and a third-place finish in the Miami Sprint.
• Driver Feedback: Vasseur emphasized that it is in the "DNA" of both Hamilton and Leclerc to push the team to its limits. He expects constant demands for improvements in areas like the simulator and car setup.
• Media Perception: Addressing reports suggesting specific "modification requests" indicate trouble, Vasseur called such views "naive." He clarified that drivers submit detailed feedback after every single race, making it standard operating procedure rather than a crisis.

Looking ahead:

Ferrari’s focus now shifts to translating this relentless internal pressure into on-track performance. With both drivers demanding excellence, the team hopes to channel this frustration into a competitive package capable of challenging McLaren's dominance next season.