Ferrari announce multi-year extension of Vasseur's contract as team boss
Vasseur, 57, has been in the post since the beginning of 2023 and was key to persuading seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton to join from Mercedes this season.
His tenure was questioned earlier in the year with reports suggesting Ferrari had sounded out Christian Horner, the Briton who was sacked by Red Bull this month and has yet to comment on what he will do next.
"Today we want to recognise what has been built and commit to what still needs to be achieved," said Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna in a statement released ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.
"It reflects our trust in Fred's leadership, a trust rooted in shared ambition, mutual expectations and clear responsibility."
Ferrari are second in the championship after 13 of the season's 24 races but a massive 268 points adrift of dominant champions McLaren.
Hamilton, the most successful driver in the history of the sport with 105 wins, has yet to stand on the podium for his new employers although he did win a Saturday sprint in Shanghai in March.
Former Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, now with Williams, told reporters at the Hungaroring that the team clearly wanted to put a lid on speculation that has unsettled staff at the Maranello factory.
"From the outside it just looks like they want to cancel the noise," said the Spaniard.
"Always in Ferrari there's so much noise and you almost need to announce that you're extending or staying for people not to create a rumour. I'm happy for Fred because I'm sure he will keep doing a good job."
STRONG FOUNDATIONS
Ferrari highlighted Vasseur's ability to lead under pressure, as well as bring change to the team.
"I'm grateful for the trust Ferrari continues to place in me. This renewal is not just a confirmation — it's a challenge to keep progressing, to stay focused, and to deliver," said Vasseur in the statement.
"Over the past 30 months, we've laid strong foundations, and now we must build on them with consistency and determination. We know what's expected, and we're all fully committed to meeting those expectations and taking the next step forward together."
Hamilton made a passionate defence of Vasseur in Canada last month amid speculation the Ferrari team boss could be replaced.
"I love working with Fred. Fred's the main reason I'm in this team and I got the opportunity to be here, which I'm forever grateful for. And we're in this together," said the 40-year-old.
"Things aren't perfect but for me, I'm here to work with the team but also with Fred. I want Fred here. I do believe Fred is the person to take us to the top."
Ferrari last won a championship in 2008, the year Hamilton took his first drivers' crown with McLaren. The last driver to be champion with Ferrari was Kimi Raikkonen in 2007. — Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
8 hours ago
- Observer
Leclerc puts Ferrari on pole in Hungary
BUDAPEST: Charles Leclerc grabbed an unexpected pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday with McLaren's Formula One leader Oscar Piastri joining the surprised Ferrari driver on the front row. McLaren's Lando Norris, Piastri's closest title rival, qualified third with George Russell lining up fourth for Mercedes. The pole was Ferrari's first of the season in a regular grand prix. Leclerc's teammate and seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who qualified only 12th at the Hungaroring, took a sprint pole in Shanghai in March. "Today, I don't understand anything in Formula One," commented Leclerc, who exclaimed "What? Mamma Mia!" when told he was on pole by 0.026 of a second. "Honestly, the whole qualifying was extremely difficult. When I say extremely difficult, it's not exaggerating. "It's probably one of the best pole positions I've ever had. It's the most unexpected, for sure." Piastri, 16 points clear of Norris in what looks like a two horse race, was almost as surprised as the Monegasque. "I wasn't expecting to be second to a Ferrari this weekend," said the Australian, who won in Hungary last year and had been fastest in Saturday's final practice after Norris dominated Friday's sessions. McLaren had taken eight previous poles this season and qualified one two in Hungary last time around. McLaren have also won 10 of 13 races so far but overtaking is not easy at the circuit outside Budapest and Leclerc has a real chance of Ferrari's first win of 2025 if he can stave off the McLarens. Norris felt Leclerc had risked a bit more with his final flying lap, with the wind changing towards the end of the session. "I think it's going to be an exciting race. I would expect us to have a bit more pace than Charles, so I'm looking forward to it," said the Briton. Behind the top four, Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll qualified fifth and sixth in a marked improvement for that team. Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto will line up seventh for Sauber with reigning champion Max Verstappen eighth fastest for Red Bull. Racing Bulls pair Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar rounded out the top 10 on the grid. Verstappen's teammate Yuki Tsunoda failed to make it through the first phase - dropping out after his predecessor in the Red Bull seat Lawson went faster — and will start 16th. — Reuters
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
Marchand bags second as McIntosh claims third gold
Swimming superstar Leon Marchand won 200m individual medley world gold on Thursday to go with his record as untouchable Summer McIntosh clinched a third title in Singapore. The 23-year-old Frenchman Marchand embellished his status as the biggest thing in men's swimming on Wednesday by obliterating Ryan Lochte's world record that had stood since 2011. Marchand's new mark of 1min 52.69sec in the world championships semi-finals wiped more than a second off Lochte's 1min 54.00 and meant he added the 200m medley world record to his record in the 400m. Twenty-four hours after the fastest swim of his life, Marchand climbed back in the pool and defied tiredness to take the world crown in 1:53.68, the second-quickest time ever. Marchand was made to work hard for the win, with American Shaine Casas pushing him hard before finishing second in 1:54.30, with Hungary's Hubert Kos third in 1:55.34. It gave Marchand, who won four individual golds in front of his home fans at the Paris Olympics a year ago, his first gold in Singapore. "I felt so excited yesterday that I couldn't sleep," he said after sealing gold. "So I think I lost a lot of energy yesterday night, but it was my goal to break the record, so I was really happy with it." Marchand will also race in the 400m medley in Singapore this week. Michael Phelps's record of five individual titles in a single world championships is under severe threat from Canadian phenomenon McIntosh. The 18-year-old powered to her third gold out of three events with victory in the 200m butterfly, falling agonisingly short of the world record. McIntosh touched the wall in 2:01.99, just failing to beat the world mark of 2:01.81 set by China's Liu Zige in 2009. Gold medallist France's Leon Marchand celebrates on the podium alongside silver medallist Shaine Casas of the US and bronze medallist Hungary's Hubert Kos. — Reuters It was the second-fastest time in history. "Overall, happy with the time and a PB (personal best), but I didn't reach my goal tonight," McIntosh said of missing the world record. American Regan Smith was second in 2:04.99, with Australia's Elizabeth Dekkers third in 2:06.12. Chinese 12-year-old Yu Zidi was narrowly fourth in 2:06.43. It is the second time at the championships that the schoolgirl has just lost out on a medal. McIntosh, the 200m butterfly Olympic champion, has already won the 400m freestyle and 200m individual medley in Singapore. She will continue her assault on the world championships in the 800m freestyle, squaring off against American legend Katie Ledecky. POPOVICI SPRINT DOUBLE Romania's David Popovici completed the sprint double after winning the 100m freestyle final, having also triumphed in the 200m free. Popovici won the blue-riband race in a championship-record 46.51sec, with Jack Alexy of the United States taking silver (46.92) and Australia's Kyle Chalmers bronze (47.17). Popovici's time was the second-fastest ever and he had just too much finishing power for a field missing Olympic champion and world record holder Pan Zhanle of China. There was a United States one-two in the women's 50m backstroke, with Katharine Berkoff (27.08sec) edging team-mate Regan Smith (27.25) for victory. Mollie O'Callaghan brought Australia home ahead of arch rivals the United States to win a thrilling women's 4x200m freestyle relay final. O'Callaghan, a five-time Olympic gold medallist, was barely able to stand afterwards. China claimed bronze to delight the large number of Chinese fans in the arena and round off the fifth day of action. — AFP
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
Ferrari announce multi-year extension of Vasseur's contract as team boss
BUDAPEST: Ferrari announced a multi-year contract extension with Formula One team boss Fred Vasseur on Thursday, ending immediate speculation about the Frenchman's future at the helm. Vasseur, 57, has been in the post since the beginning of 2023 and was key to persuading seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton to join from Mercedes this season. His tenure was questioned earlier in the year with reports suggesting Ferrari had sounded out Christian Horner, the Briton who was sacked by Red Bull this month and has yet to comment on what he will do next. "Today we want to recognise what has been built and commit to what still needs to be achieved," said Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna in a statement released ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix. "It reflects our trust in Fred's leadership, a trust rooted in shared ambition, mutual expectations and clear responsibility." Ferrari are second in the championship after 13 of the season's 24 races but a massive 268 points adrift of dominant champions McLaren. Hamilton, the most successful driver in the history of the sport with 105 wins, has yet to stand on the podium for his new employers although he did win a Saturday sprint in Shanghai in March. Former Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, now with Williams, told reporters at the Hungaroring that the team clearly wanted to put a lid on speculation that has unsettled staff at the Maranello factory. "From the outside it just looks like they want to cancel the noise," said the Spaniard. "Always in Ferrari there's so much noise and you almost need to announce that you're extending or staying for people not to create a rumour. I'm happy for Fred because I'm sure he will keep doing a good job." STRONG FOUNDATIONS Ferrari highlighted Vasseur's ability to lead under pressure, as well as bring change to the team. "I'm grateful for the trust Ferrari continues to place in me. This renewal is not just a confirmation — it's a challenge to keep progressing, to stay focused, and to deliver," said Vasseur in the statement. "Over the past 30 months, we've laid strong foundations, and now we must build on them with consistency and determination. We know what's expected, and we're all fully committed to meeting those expectations and taking the next step forward together." Hamilton made a passionate defence of Vasseur in Canada last month amid speculation the Ferrari team boss could be replaced. "I love working with Fred. Fred's the main reason I'm in this team and I got the opportunity to be here, which I'm forever grateful for. And we're in this together," said the 40-year-old. "Things aren't perfect but for me, I'm here to work with the team but also with Fred. I want Fred here. I do believe Fred is the person to take us to the top." Ferrari last won a championship in 2008, the year Hamilton took his first drivers' crown with McLaren. The last driver to be champion with Ferrari was Kimi Raikkonen in 2007. — Reuters
