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Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur has hit out at Formula 1 media coverage, taking particular aim at the relentless scrutiny from the Italian press. According to the Frenchman, constant speculation and negative headlines surrounding him and the team place a heavy psychological burden on the workforce at Maranello.
Over the past week, the Scuderia boss found himself at the center of one of the fiercest media storms since taking charge. An interview given by Christian Horner to British newspaper The Times fueled rumors over Vasseur's future, sparking speculation that eventually forced Ferrari's hierarchy to release a statement reaffirming their full confidence in both the project and its leader.
Speaking to Canal+, Vasseur revealed that he consciously cuts himself off from the media and social platforms such as Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), making a point of not reading what is written about the Scuderia.
The Frenchman explained that personal attacks do not trouble him as much as the fallout on the roughly 1,500 employees under his watch. He stressed that a negative atmosphere directly damages staff morale every morning, ultimately harming the team's on-track performance.
"I don't have Instagram or Twitter accounts, and I don't read the press. I try to protect myself from all of that," Vasseur said. "My main concern is the 1,500 people working with me. When negative things are said about me, the team, or anything else, they feel it the very next morning when they walk into work. I believe that has a huge negative impact on our results."
Vasseur also underlined that merely holding the title of Ferrari boss does not satisfy his ambitions, insisting his ultimate goal is returning the legendary team to the top step of the podium. While he considers leading the Italian outfit an immense privilege, he maintains that true success can only be measured by race wins.
The team principal pointed out the sharp contrast between the hostile tone in the media and the unconditional loyalty of the Tifosi. He noted that the supporters stand by the team just as passionately during tough times, gathering outside the factory gates in defeat just as they do after victories.
"Joining Ferrari is not the Holy Grail in Formula 1—winning with Ferrari is the real goal," Vasseur added. "I don't feel I've reached the peak at all. Being part of this team is great, but winning with it is even better. There's a massive difference between what's written in the press and blogs and the genuine support from people, which is always overwhelmingly positive. The fans are incredibly passionate. Hundreds wait outside the factory when we win, but they are also there when we lose. For us, that isn't pressure—it's an invaluable asset."
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