Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur slams Italian F1 media, blaming fake rumours and press pressure for disrupting team development.
Fred Vasseur continues his criticism of those he considers to be disruptive Formula 1 journalists in Italy.
While he acknowledges that his three-year contract is coming to an end, the 57-year-old arrived in Montreal this week amid a wave of speculation about his future at the helm of the Ferrari team.
Vasseur had already spoken out against aligned articles from La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere della Sera, while Corriere dello Sport is now claiming that Lewis Hamilton was furious in Barcelona after setup changes were made to his car without his knowledge.
“The only possible explanation is that these are either journalists trying to make a name for themselves, or journalists looking to destabilize the team. Or perhaps both,” he told Canal Plus on Saturday.
“This may be the only way for these media outlets to survive, through clicks. But it really harms the team. From the start of the weekend, everything revolves around that.”
Vasseur reiterates that he is deeply angry because the rumors are not only about him.
“When names are thrown around, when hires that never happened are invented, when it is said that Charles (Leclerc) will join Mercedes next year…”
“In any case, if they want to be supporters or at least close to the team, they have failed. The right questions need to be asked if Ferrari hasn’t won in years.”
“We changed the team principal, we changed the drivers, we’ve changed almost everything. Except one thing…”
Vasseur did not specify what he was referring to, but he is almost certainly alluding to the attitude of the Italian press.
“My position is fragile by definition. It’s like being a football coach. We know that this job, whether at Ferrari or elsewhere, is exposed. I believe there is an average of three team principal changes per season. I didn’t come to Ferrari thinking I would stay for life.”
“I’m trying to develop the team, to make it progress, to build something. But we won’t win a championship like this. Certainly not with these kinds of journalists around us.”
