Vasseur unfazed by driver complaints, focuses on Ferrari improvement

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has dismissed concerns over his drivers' public criticisms, stating he pays no attention to their comments in the media pen and instead values their role in pushing the team forward internally. His pragmatic approach follows Ferrari chairman John Elkann's earlier suggestion that drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc should "stay quiet."

Why it matters:

The public divergence in philosophy between the team principal and the chairman highlights the internal dynamics at Ferrari as they seek to rebound from a disappointing season. Vasseur's focus on harnessing driver feedback for improvement, rather than silencing it, is a critical management stance for a team under immense pressure to deliver a championship-challenging car in 2026.

The details:

• After the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Vasseur explicitly stated, "I don’t pay attention to the reaction in the TV pen," prioritizing a driver's contribution in team debriefs.
• He defended Charles Leclerc's critical nature, describing it as a long-standing trait that creates a "positive dynamic" aimed solely at improvement, whether the team finishes first or fourth.
• Vasseur's comments serve as a diplomatic counterpoint to Chairman John Elkann's earlier criticism, which placed the team boss in a difficult position between corporate leadership and his drivers.
• Following the race, Leclerc doubled down on his demanding stance, telling media including PlanetF1.com that the 2026 regulation reset represents a "now or never" opportunity for Ferrari to prove itself.

The big picture:

Vasseur is strategically aligning the team's culture around continuous improvement, using driver frustration as fuel rather than viewing it as a distraction. His management style accepts emotional reactions as part of the competitive process, provided they translate into constructive work behind closed doors. This approach will be tested as Ferrari prepares its 2026 car, a project seen internally as a pivotal moment to return to the front of the grid.