Lando Norris
McLaren
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Williams
Racing Bulls
Aston Martin
Haas
Alpine
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has asserted that his relationship with top management at Maranello is ‘good’ despite recent reports suggesting that his future at the team depends on the Scuderia’s success this year.
Since being thrust into the helm at Ferrari following Mattia Binotto’s exit at the end of 2022, Fred Vasseur has been trying to bring the iconic Italian racing outfit back to their glory days of old.
So far, he has been unsuccessful, but the early forecasts for the 2026 F1 season indicate that Ferrari will be among the frontrunners to win some end-of-season silverware.
However, if he fails to bring a title back to Maranello, it has been reported that Vasseur may receive his marching orders from chairman John Elkann.
It is also understood that Ferrari bosses will assess the F1 team’s trajectory at the summer break this year, and if they aren’t happy with the direction of the team, then they won’t hesitate to make a mid-season decision regarding the future of their team principal.
- READ MORE: Fred Vasseur has changed Ferrari’s Australian Grand Prix objective after impressive testing
Who should Ferrari make team principal if they sack Fred Vasseur?
Fred Vasseur issues an update on his relationship with Ferrari bosses
Amid the rumours of Vasseur entering a crucial campaign for his career at Ferrari, the Frenchman addressed his rapport with the top brass at Maranello in an interview with Motorsport Italia.
Vasseur asserted that his relationship with them is anything but fragile, while also highlighting the ‘great advantage’ that Ferrari team principals have in comparison to his previous roles across the F1 grid.
He said, “The relationship is good. The great advantage of Ferrari is that we have direct access. When there is a crucial decision to be made, or it becomes important to have an opinion on something, I can quickly consult with the top management.
“This proximity is fundamental, and I know this well because it has not always been the case in my previous work experiences. It is not to be taken for granted, and in Formula 1, speed of decision-making is crucial.”
A big positive that the tifosi can take from the Prancing Horse’s strong pre-season test is that there have been signs of Ferrari’s ‘culture of fear’ for the new season disappearing.
Amid an 18-year title drought, it’s understandable that there is a lot of frustration surrounding the team’s performance in recent years.
With a new set of technical regulations completely overhauling the pecking order, we really could see Ferrari back where they belong once cars hit the track in Melbourne this weekend.
- READ MORE: Martin Brundle is ‘confident’ Lewis Hamilton will have a ‘better year’ after what he saw in testing
Have F1 Oversteer readers overrated or underrated Lewis Hamilton’s title chances?
Fred Vasseur’s job at Ferrari will be safe if the prediction of F1 fans comes true
We will certainly be seeing Vasseur remain at the helm of Ferrari’s F1 hopes into the foreseeable future if the F1 fans are right in their prediction of Lewis Hamilton winning the 2026 drivers’ title.
The seven-time world champion received just under a third of all votes in a poll run by F1 Oversteer, with reigning world champion Lando Norris being backed by just 4% of voters.
David Croft is also hopeful of seeing an in-form Hamilton in 2026, with colleague Damon Hill predicting that the Ferrari star will enjoy his first Grand Prix victory with the team at the season-opener in Melbourne.
Nothing else will be much more of a statement than if Ferrari can start this new era of regulations with a victory.
That being said, Charles Leclerc did win the first Grand Prix of the ground-effect era, and we all know how that turned out for them.
Receive exclusive F1 news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
