Fred Vasseur ‘irked’ by suggestions Ferrari have tried to replace one key ally during 2025 F1 struggles

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Ferrari’s 2025 season has not got off to the spectacular start that they hoped, having signed seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes.

Although the team is third in the Constructors’ Championship, neither Charles Leclerc nor Hamilton has broken into the top three in the Drivers’ Championship.

Only three podium finishes between them in Grands Prix and zero victories is in stark contrast to their 2024 form, when they had picked up at least two wins between Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.

Reports that Fred Vasseur had three races to save his job were led in Italian media during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, but the Frenchman dismissed them and urged less speculation.

One particular report ‘irked’ Vasseur, according to a report in The Sunday Times, particularly over the contents.

Fred Vasseur ‘irked’ by reports that Ferrari was trying to poach Enrico Balbo from Red Bull

Reports emerged during the last week that Ferrari are trying to poach key staff from Red Bull, in particular their principal aerodynamicist Enrico Balbo.

Ferrari have been dealing with an inherent problem with its car since the start of the season, which was exacerbated by the disqualification of Hamilton and Leclerc in China.

Changes to the rear suspension of the Ferrari SF-25 are on the way, which should help them address Hamilton’s concerns, but they are now already significantly behind in the title race.

Vasseur was ‘irked’ according to the report by The Sunday Times, by the suggestions that Ferrari could poach Balbo from Red Bull, given the implications it could have for their future head of aerodynamics Diego Tondi.

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Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc holding out for Ferrari upgrades

Hamilton is desperate for Ferrari’s rear suspension upgrade, given there is a growing acceptance that further updates to their car should enable them to unlock more performance in the SF-25.

The car is particularly sensitive to the Pirelli tyres, which Hamilton struggles to get into the right operating window – particularly in qualifying.

The updates to the rear suspension are scheduled for the Austrian GP and are designed to make the rear of the SF-25 more predictable.

Ferrari are also concerned that the upgrades might not bring what Hamilton wants, in terms of the increased performance he believes they need to get back to winning.