Formula 1 News: Vasseur admits Ferrari contract not yet renewed

Frederic Vasseur admits his expiring contract with Ferrari is yet to be renewed for 2026 amid pressure to blame him for Lewis Hamilton being beaten like a drum by his last two teammates

The F1 paddock cannot come to grips with the fact Lewis Hamilton has been beaten like a drum by both George Russell and now Charles Leclerc. They tried to make Hamilton’s engineer the scapegoat and now Fred Vasseur. Perhaps the issue is that at 40 years of age, Hamilton is washed up. Photo taken during the Formula 1 Pirelli Grand Prix du Canada 2025, 10th round of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship from June 14 to 16, 2025 on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, in Montréal, Canada – Photo Xavi Bonilla / DPPI

(GMM) The Frenchman lashed out at matching reports in major Italian newspapers Corriere della Sera and La Gazzetta dello Sport suggesting the Maranello based marque is considering ousting him.

“I don’t want to waste time on it,” Vasseur told Sky Italia in Montreal after also revealing his anger in front of the international media in the FIA press conference.

“Journalists aren’t the ones who decide who we replace. This is just bad for the team’s concentration level and the whole environment. Doing it like this just throws everyone into the mud.

“The attacks on me aren’t a problem – I get angry when they attack the team.”

However, when pressed on his contract renewal talks with Ferrari, the 57-year-old appeared to confirm speculation that his three-year deal is set to expire on December 31.

“We still have time to discuss it,” Vasseur insisted. “There’s time.”

Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal of Haas F1 Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari and James Vowles, Team Principal of Williams in the Team Principals Press Conference during practice ahead of the F1 GP of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 13, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Support for Vasseur, however, is coming in from all the highest places – and not just from his drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.

Williams boss James Vowles describes him as an “incredibly good leader”.

“I have all the respect in the world for Fred and what he is doing in Ferrari,” he said, “because they are competitive and they are moving forward.”

Even F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, who has felt Ferrari’s axe himself, is putting in strong words of support for Vasseur.

“Leave Frederic Vasseur alone,” he told France’s L’Equipe.

“He is doing a great job and he must remain focused and strong on his objective. He must disconnect from this external pressure and save all of his energy to continue his work.

“I told him, and now I tell you officially – I believe in him. He must not fall into the trap of weakening in the face of these attacks because there are always some. Let him work in peace – that’s how Ferrari will return to the top,” Domenicali added.

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, however, told Sky Deutschland that it’s obvious Vasseur’s position is being discussed behind the scenes.

“For me, this whole thing is like deja vu,” he said. “Before my brother (Michael) became world champion for the first time at Ferrari, it was a similar situation then. Jean Todt was under a lot of pressure.

“That’s Italy, and we know the expectations. From what we hear, Fred had a three-year contract, so it’s now a question of whether or not it will be extended,” Schumacher added.