Ferrari: Vasseur in Elkann’s Crosshairs After the Monza Flop
The disaster at Monza could prove very costly for Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur. Ferrari arrived at the Autodromo with high hopes following the ADUO update, but the weekend turned into a nightmare with difficulties in qualifying, Charles Leclerc’s crash after just a few laps, and Lewis Hamilton’s disappointing sixth-place finish. To make matters even worse, the tensions between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have become untenable for the team.
According to rumors, Chairman John Elkann and the Maranello team’s top brass were reportedly very dissatisfied with what happened during the Italian Grand Prix, including from a management perspective. According to rumors from The Race, Frederic Vasseur is specifically in the crosshairs, to the point that his position could be in jeopardy. Christian Horner, former Red Bull team principal, is currently a free agent, and Ferrari executives are reportedly considering Vasseur, according to the Corriere della Sera. “His future as team principal is uncertain. In Maranello, there is a lot of pressure—coming from the top—that could lead to his dismissal.”
The French executive’s performance will be under scrutiny in the upcoming races. A strong response is needed following the setback in the home race, and a shake-up at the end of the season is not out of the question.
After the race, Vasseur commented on the incident between Hamilton and Leclerc at the start: “Certainly, the outcome of what happened at Turn 1 and Turn 2 isn’t positive for Ferrari, if that’s what the question was about. The best comparison I think I’ve made is with last year’s McLaren. In 2025, around the time of the Monza race, Piastri was leading the standings, but if the team had bet everything on him, Max Verstappen would have become world champion. So we, too, will undoubtedly have to make a decision at some point. Before Monza, it would have been too soon; now there’s time to discuss it. So far, I’ve talked about it for two seconds with Lewis and not at all with Charles. I want to discuss it with them before I discuss it with you,” concluded the French executive, who hinted at a possible shake-up in the team hierarchy following yet another disappointment.
