Ferrari back Vasseur amid speculation over future

Ferrari has reaffirmed their commitment to retaining Frederic Vasseur as their Formula 1 team principal despite speculation surrounding his position. This decision was announced in a press conference following the Baku Grand Prix, with Ferrari's chief communication officer Maria Conti delivering the statement on behalf of chairman John Elkann and CEO Benedetto Vigna. Conti emphasized that Ferrari's stance remains unchanged, expressing confidence in Vasseur and his team.

The Italian team entered the 2026 season with high hopes, believing their preparedness for upcoming rule changes would enable them to challenge for the championship. However, Ferrari currently find themselves second in the constructors' standings, trailing Mercedes by a significant 160-point margin. McLaren is in third place, 72 points behind Ferrari.

After the race, Lewis Hamilton was asked about his confidence in Ferrari's direction under Vasseur's leadership. He responded affirmatively, stating he remains optimistic about the team's prospects. However, Vasseur acknowledged that the frequent speculation about his future has become a source of frustration for both him and the team. He admitted that this distraction is a source of annoyance, but he remains focused on fighting for second place in the championship.

Vasseur's current contract with Ferrari is a multi-year agreement covering multiple F1 seasons. He joined the team at the start of 2023, succeeding Mattia Binotto, who had been at the helm following a strong start to the previous regulation period. Binotto's tenure was followed by a period of challenges, including reliability issues and questionable operational decisions.