'They Have To Consider...': Ferrari Boss Fred Vasseur Hits Out At Italian Media Reports
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Vasseur rebuked reports in Italian media following speculation over the 57-year-old's future with the iconic Prancing Horse amid challenging results.
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur lambasted reports in Italian media following speculation over the 57-year-old's future with the iconic Prancing Horse amid testing results.
Star driver Lewis Hamilton backed the Frenchman amid rumours surrounding his tenure at the helm of the famous Italian racing outfit.
'First, I have to stay calm because I will have to talk to the stewards. It's some Italian media. It's not all Italian media. And it's not about myself, I think, because this, I can manage," Vasseur said on the sidelines of the Canadian Grand Prix.
'It's more about the people of the team. To throw their name like this, I think it's just disrespectful for them, for the family," he derided.
'It's really hurting the team. At one stage, it's a lack of focus. When you are fighting for the championship, every single detail makes a difference," the Frenchman said.
Vasseur added that the was aware of the risks and esponsibilities that accompany the job of the principal of the fabled Scuderia Ferrari.
'I knew when I joined, when I took the position, that you are exposed, this I think it's quite easy to manage, but for me it's more for the people of the team," he explained.
'They are working very hard — to decide one day that this one will be replaced, this one will be replaced, this one is useless," he elucidated.
'Honestly, it's very, very harsh because these journalists — and I'm not putting everybody in the same basket — they have to consider that these people, they have family," he pointed out.
'They have wives, they have kids, and this is completely unrespectful. Now, I don't want to speak any more about this stupid subject," he signed off.
There were talks linking Red Bull boss Chistian Horner to the job of Ferrari team Principal, but Horner shut down talks of a move away from RB.
'There are so many rumours, but I'm not going anywhere. I'm fully committed to Red Bull. We've got so much good stuff coming through the pipeline. We're on the verge of launching our own engine for 2026 which has been a massive project and undertaking," the Brit said.
'Of course, it's always flattering to be associated with other teams, particularly teams like Ferrari, but I'm not going anywhere, not even to Alpine," Horner added.
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June 14, 2025, 07:55 IST
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This Grand Slam final would be their first against each other and the first between two men born in the 2000s. And it proved to be historic. DraftKings made Alcaraz a slight — 105 betting favourite with Sinner at -120. Those not fortunate to have a ticket could buy one from a scalper for a mere USD 2,200. When Sinner saved his sixth break point in the opening set with a 105-mph forehand winner, an awed John McEnroe said, 'Hitting forehands in triple digits was unheard of not long ago.' Alcaraz countered with a rocket forehand winner to get another break point, which he converted. This was video game tennis on clay, as both players overpowered the sport's slowest surface and often their opponent in rapid-fire exchanges that pushed their racket skills, court speed, and athleticism to almost superhuman limits. The Spaniard lost his concentration in the 10th game, making four unforced errors, to give away the set, 6-4. It was too soon for Alcaraz fans to panic as their hero had lost the first set in four of his last five matches, yet went on to win them all. But they had to worry when Sinner, like a speeding freight train, raced ahead 3-0 in the second set. Alcaraz — desperate for a service break and ignited by chants of 'Carlos! Carlos!' — attacked furiously and forced three Sinner errors to break for 5-4 Sinner. Three more service holds made it 6-all and tiebreak time. Both had excelled in tiebreaks this season with Sinner 6-1 and Alcaraz 9-3. The Italian took this one 7-4 with a blazing cross-court forehand that overpowered Alcaraz's vaunted forehand. Alcaraz was 0-8 after losing the first two sets at a Major. On the other hand, he was a brilliant 12-1 in five-set matches, losing only to Matteo Berrettini at the 2022 Australian Open, while Sinner was 1-5 in his previous six five-setters. Alcaraz vented his frustration at his player box after losing his serve to start the third set. But the tide turned quickly as he broke Sinner's serve three times, the last at love. Alcaraz clinched the 6-4 set with an unreturnable forehand volley into the open court. Time after time, both unleashed haymakers. They had already hammered seven forehands each over 100 mph! Serving at 4-5 in the fourth set, Alcaraz self-destructed with backhand and forehand errors and a double fault. Suddenly, he was down Triple Championship Point! After 5 hours and 29 minutes—the second longest in time for a Grand Slam final—Sinner had won one more point, 193 to 192. But Alcaraz had performed better on the big points, most notably the three championship points. | Photo Credit: Reuters He escaped the first with a strong, deep forehand cross-court that forced a Sinner forehand error. He saved the second when Sinner recklessly overhit a backhand service return past the baseline. And he got lucky on the third when Sinner underhit a mid-court forehand that he should have belted and netted the next forehand. At 40-all, Alcaraz hit an ace and a forehand winner on the dead run to hold serve. Disaster averted! Riding that momentum and increasingly louder cries of 'Carlos! Carlos!' the Spaniard broke for 5-all. 'This is going to be a tall order for Sinner now, even though he's ahead,' said McEnroe. That order became even taller when Alcaraz took the fourth-set tiebreak 7-3 on a forehand approach winner. McEnroe called the great escape 'definitely a Houdini act.' Alcaraz served for the match at 5-4 in the fifth. This time it was Sinner who escaped from the jaws of defeat. He sprinted forward and scraped up a superb Alcaraz drop shot to conjure an even better drop shot that landed inches from the net. That made the score 15-40. The Italian converted the critical break point with a powerful backhand service return that forced a forehand error. Fittingly, two games later, a 10-point Match Tiebreak would decide this epic match. Nobody is better than Alcaraz when he plays his A+ game. Going into lockdown mode and striking the ball better than ever, Alcaraz streaked to a 7-0 lead. The most spectacular and unusual shot came when Sinner struck a solid backhand approach down the line. Anticipating it and displaying the extreme athleticism of a football wide receiver and a baseball shortstop, Alcaraz leapt laterally through no-man's-land, intercepted it, and created a jaw-dropping forehand cross-court volley winner. 'He does the seemingly impossible on the court,' John said. The charismatic Spaniard clinched the match tiebreak 10-2 with yet another super shot — an unforgettable forehand winner à la Nadal — to finish one of the greatest comebacks in tennis history. 'This match had everything,' raved Tracy Austin. 'I can't think of a better Roland Garros final,' said John. 'These guys bring out the best in each other. It's phenomenal,' enthused Navratilova on the riveting rivalry. 'I don't know how you watch that match and don't know tennis is the toughest sport in the world,' declared Querrey. After 5 hours and 29 minutes — the second longest in time for a Grand Slam final — Sinner had won one more point, 193 to 192. But Alcaraz had performed better on the big points, most notably the three championship points. Ultimately, the difference was belief. 'I just believe all the time,' Alcaraz said. 'I never have doubts about myself, even in those match points down. I thought just one point at a time.' During the trophy ceremony, the disconsolate but gracious Sinner said, 'I don't think I will sleep very well tonight.' More upbeat in the media conference later, Sinner said, 'I'm happy to be part of this. Would be even more happy if I would have the big trophy. But you can't change it now. Of course, happy to deliver this kind of level. Happy about the tournament. But obviously this one hurts.' 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People make mistakes, whether it's the team or her or whatever. That was a funny moment, especially [because] she tries to be Mrs. Mature.' Indeed, Gauff possesses an uncommon maturity. On the court she is an impeccable sportswoman. Off the court she is an eloquent advocate for social justice. The Dream Final, which pitted No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka against No. 2 Gauff, proved once again that tennis entails far more than technique and tactics. TNT Sports and Tennis Channel experts analysed mainly the Xs and Os. 'Sabalenka is playing much better percentage tennis, while still going for her shots,' said all-time great Navratilova. 'Aryna suffocates you [with power] on the court. She's scary,' said 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens. Sabalenka was the DraftKings betting favourite at -225. But Gauff, the 21-year-old American at +175, had her supporters. 'Aryna doesn't like extended rallies that Gauff is capable of doing,' noted former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki. 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Then Ivan Lendl rallied from a two-set deficit to overcome John in a classic, while Navratilova overpowered arch-rival Chris Evert to become the second woman in the Open Era to simultaneously hold all four Major singles titles. Although Coco Gauff's 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Aryna Sabalenka never matched the men's final in sustained excellence, it certainly did in closeness, unpredictability and excitement. Whether that was due to the windy conditions, nerves in their first Roland-Garros final, or their even rivalry — 1-1 on clay and 5-5 overall — wild fluctuations turned this duel into an intriguing test of will as much as skill. The first set alone saw eight service breaks. Sabalenka, who had won 19 of her last 20 Grand Slam matches, including her stunning 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-0 semifinal victory over four-time French champion Iga Swiatek, seemed like that same irresistible force when she broke Gauff's serve with a forehand volley winner for 2-1 and a vicious forehand serve return winner for 4-1. When the 5'11' Belarusian power hitter raced to a 40-love lead in the next game, she looked like the same player who steamrolled Swiatek in the final set two days earlier. The same player about whom Tennis Channel analyst Prakash Amritraj said, 'When she plays her best, another player can't beat her.' Unless the other player is Gauff. The resilient American reeled off five straight points to secure her first service break. Two games later, Gauff broke again on her fifth break point with a backhand passing shot that the rattled Sabalenka misjudged and let go by. During the huge momentum swing, Sabalenka swept 16 of the first 23 points, while Gauff grabbed 14 of the next 20. Gauff's fighting spirit With Sabalenka serving for the set at 5-4, Gauff escaped two set points and then broke serve on her fifth break point. 'That's the fighting spirit we've known so well from Gauff,' said Davenport. The topsy-turvy set had two more service breaks. Sabalenka raised her arms in exultation after a forehand volley winner put her briefly ahead 6-5. In the next game on break point, Gauff countered with the shot of the match. The Florida Flash sprinted to a Sabalenka overhead and drilled a sensational backhand down-the-line passing shot winner. No lead was safe. In the tie-break, Gauff raced to a 4-1 advantage highlighted by two backhand winners. Sabalenka responded, showing off her power and finesse to seize the last four points with winners. An 84-mph backhand service return made it 4-5, a ferocious down-the-line backhand 5-5, a cross-court forehand volley 6-5, and a feathery forehand drop volley 7-5. But Gauff had seen this movie before. Even starred in it. She had lost the opening set in the 2023 US Open final against Sabalenka and pulled the match out in three thrilling sets for her first Grand Slam crown. Gauff knew that if she could once again find the right balance between high-percentage offence and point-prolonging defence, she could induce many more errors from Sabalenka. As Stephens colourfully put it before the final, 'Coco needs to run for her life, Aryna needs to keep her head.' Gauff's shot variety and foot speed broke down Sabalenka's power-ball game and poise. | Photo Credit: AFP The momentum shifted again. Gauff's improved Western forehand delivered a cross-court winner for a service break and 1-0 lead. When she held serve at love for 2-0, Sabalenka started fuming and vented to her camp. Were the ghosts of heart-breaking three-set losses at Majors — such as that US Open final and the Australian Open final in January to Madison Keys — haunting her now? Gauff's shot variety and foot speed were breaking down Sabalenka's power-ball game and poise. Sabalenka managed a service break but still trailed 4-2 in the second set. Then Gauff poured it on, taking eight straight points, the last on a put-away overhead, to wrap up the 6-2 set. 'Sabalenka has been all over the place,' said Davenport. 'Let's see if she can dominate play and look like the No. 1.' If history were any guide, Sabalenka had reason to worry. Before the final, she was a mediocre 17-17 in three-set matches at Majors compared to Gauff's splendid 17-6, In fact, Gauff was 10-2 since the start of 2023. Benefitting from in-match coaching, Gauff moved forward from four feet behind the baseline in the first set to two feet inside it thereafter to win eight of the next 11 games. The positional pressure worked. The Belarusian blinked first in the deciding set, double faulting to lose her serve and fall behind 2-1. Yelling in Russian at her camp seemed to help as she broke back for 3-all. But a boomerang break — at love! — put Gauff ahead for good at 4-3. Minutes later, the discombobulated Sabalenka made three unforced errors to wind up Gauff's 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 triumph. Gauff fell onto her back, hopped up to shake hands with Sabalenka, and shed tears of joy, relief and satisfaction on her chair. During the trophy presentation, Sabalenka, with tears flowing, tried to compose herself as she praised Gauff, thanked her team, and apologised, 'I'm sorry for this terrible final.' 'Coco stayed so calm and positive through so many twists and turns,' summed up Davenport. In sharp contrast, noted Stephens, 'Aryna did not control any emotions, and that lost her the match. It wasn't about tennis. She battled herself and Coco.' Despite the disappointing final, Sabalenka had much to be proud of during her best Roland-Garros performance. The Belarusian Basher powered through a draw much tougher than Gauff's with convincing wins over resurgent No. 16 Amanda Anisimova 7-5, 6-3, who had beaten Sabalenka in five of their previous seven matches, No. 8 and Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen 7-6(3), 6-3, and the Queen of Clay, Swiatek. No stone unturned Swiatek led Sabalenka in their rivalry, 8-4 and 5-1 on clay. But those stats were misleading because the 23-year-old Pole hadn't won a tournament since taking her fourth Roland-Garros title a year ago, and her ranking dropped to No. 5. Swiatek changed coaches, hiring highly regarded Wim Fisette, but still played a predictable one-dimensional baseline game built around her superb forehand and foot speed. Conversely, Sabalenka left no stone unturned to add to her intimidating power game. 'She's incorporated drop shots, slices, she comes to the net more, she has more variety,' noted seven-time French Open champion Chris Evert. 'She also has a better attitude when she's in trouble,' said Mary Joe Fernandez, a TNT analyst. Sabalenka, who had broken Swiatek's serve just 10 times in their 12 previous matches, easily broke the Pole three straight times with a barrage of winners to surge ahead 4-1. Swiatek fought back with three service breaks to force a tie-break only to have Sabalenka crush her 7-1. Sabalenka overwhelmed Iga Swiatek 6-0 in the final set of their semifinal clash. | Photo Credit: Getty Images Flattening out her forehand from an average of 3,073 rpm in the first set to 2,360 in the second set and returning Sabalenka's big serves aggressively, Swiatek captured the second set 6-4. First-strike tennis paid off handsomely. Alas, Swiatek couldn't slug it out anymore against a natural slugger during the deciding set. In the most dominating set of the year between elite players, Sabalenka overwhelmed and dethroned Swiatek 6-0, winning 24 of 30 points. 'To win the set 6-0 against Iga on clay is something out of my mind,' admitted Sabalenka, who ended Swiatek's 26-match winning streak at Roland-Garros and became the first player to defeat her twice on clay. Stephens assessed the impressive triumph in more personal terms. 'Sabalenka is a very vengeful person. She's going for blood, as she said against Zheng.' Keys, the surprise Australian Open champion, gave Gauff her toughest challenge before the final. Despite 41 unforced errors versus just 15 winners, Gauff prevailed 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1 by 'winning ugly', something her former coach Brad Gilbert used to take pride in. Her relentless determination and running game — a vacuum cleaner defence — induced many of Keys' 60 unforced errors. 'It's just I have always had that in me, and not just in tennis but in everything. I'm a very competitive person,' explained Gauff. 'My philosophy is if I can just leave it all out there, then the loss will hurt a lot less than regrets of maybe not giving it your all.' Led by Gauff, Keys, and Frances Tiafoe in singles, for the first time in tennis history, an African American made the quarterfinals (or better) in all five of the professional events — men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles — at a single Grand Slam tournament. If you hadn't heard of Lois Boisson before the French Open, you weren't the only one. A wild card ranked a lowly No. 361, Boisson made her Tour-level debut at Rouen in May and her Grand Slam debut in Paris. The 22-year-old Frenchwoman made the most of it by streaking all the way to the semifinals. Her fairytale fortnight started in the first round when she upset 24th-seeded Belgian veteran Elise Mertens 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. Parlaying a devastating topspin forehand, blazing speed, deft volleys, and exceptional touch shots to offset a weak backhand, she then shocked a nervous No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 and 18-year-old sensation and No. 6 Mirra Andreeva 7-6 (6), 6-3. The Russian became so frustrated at 3-all from the raucous hometown fans that she whacked a ball into the crowd, which rained her with a chorus of boos. Lois Boisson. | Photo Credit: AFP Boisson, a hidden talent with a style reminiscent of Samantha Stosur, the former US Open winner and French Open runner-up, was sidelined for nine months with a torn ACL. She returned to competition in April. Fearless in the big moments, the muscular, 5'9' Boisson became just the third woman — after teen phenoms Jennifer Capriati and Monica Seles — to make the semifinals in her debut Major. 'I think every kid who plays tennis has the dream to win a Slam,' said Boisson. 'More for French players to win Roland-Garros, for sure. So, yeah, it's a dream. For sure, I will go for the dream, because my dream is to win it, not to be in the semifinal.' Gauff ended her Cinderella story with an emphatic 6-1, 6-2 victory over the 500-1 pre-tournament long shot. Like a savvy veteran, she attacked Boisson's vulnerable backhand — an erratic two-hander and a soft slice one-hander — and blocked out the stentorian crowd. Gauff copied a trick Djokovic used when he played crowd favourites. 'Actually, when you guys were chanting her name, I was saying to myself my name, just to psych myself out.' As Gauff has done ever since she burst on the scene as a precocious 15-year-old upsetting Venus Williams at Wimbledon to make the round of 16 in her Grand Slam main draw debut, she set more 'youngest records' at Roland-Garros. Gauff became the youngest to win Major women's titles on multiple surfaces since Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon in 2004 and the US Open in 2006 as well as the youngest American to win the singles title at Roland-Garros since Serena Williams in 2002. Evert, a teen queen who won 18 singles Majors during her 19-year career, believes 'Mrs Maturity', as Tiafoe calls her, 'will win 10, 12, 14 Majors. She's so much more mature than a 21-year-old. She's more like 25, 26.'
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- The Hindu
Canadian GP: Leclerc crashes, Russell tops in practice
George Russell set the pace for Mercedes in the second Canadian Grand Prix practice on Friday after Red Bull's Formula One champion Max Verstappen led the opening session at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc sat out the later session after crashing in the first, leaving mechanics plenty of work to repair the car. Aston Martin's Lance Stroll, who missed the previous race in Spain due to hand and wrist pain, crashed at turn seven in second practice for his home grand prix and smashed the front left suspension. Russell's time of one minute 12.123 seconds compared to Verstappen's earlier afternoon effort of 1:13.193. The pair qualified on the front row last year with identical times, with Russell on pole but Verstappen going on to win the race for a third year in a row. They also clashed in Spain two weekends ago, with Verstappen left on the brink of a ban after driving into the Mercedes. The Dutch driver was only ninth in Friday's second practice, behind Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, with McLaren's Lando Norris the closest to Russell and only 0.028 slower. 'The car is jumping like crazy in the rear, like the ride is terrible,' reported Verstappen over the radio. Mercedes' strong form was emphasised by Russell's rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli setting the third best time, 0.288 off the pace. Also read | FIA suspends steward for Canadian Grand Prix over Verstappen penalty comments Runaway championship leaders McLaren had made a comparatively slow start to the weekend until Norris' lap, with Australian Oscar Piastri seventh and sixth and testing upgrades including a new front wing. Piastri leads Norris by 10 points after nine of the season's 24 rounds. Williams' Alex Albon was second and fourth in the sessions, but strangely missed his garage when pitting in the second and had to go around again, with teammate Carlos Sainz third and seventh. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso ended the day fifth. Leclerc brought out the red flags when he hit the wall at the second chicane with 45 minutes remaining, causing extensive damage to his Ferrari. Ferrari said the survival cell needed to be replaced.
