Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur has defended his drivers’ right to voice frustration publicly, even after chairman John Elkann suggested Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton should “focus on driving and talk less”. The Frenchman insists critical feedback from both drivers represents the mentality Ferrari needs to bounce back from a winless 2025 campaign that saw the Scuderia slip to fourth in the constructors’ championship. Rather than demanding silence, Vasseur actively encourages his star pairing to push the team on every front as the sport prepares for sweeping technical regulations in 2026.
Team principal dismisses television interviews as secondary concern
Vasseur made clear that his attention remains fixed on what happens inside the garage rather than in front of cameras. Speaking after Ferrari’s fourth and eighth-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the team principal explained that post-session soundbites carry little weight compared to the work conducted behind closed doors.
“I don’t pay attention to the reaction in the TV pen,” Vasseur stated. “The most important for me is to have a guy coming back to us and pushing the team to do a better job and to work all together to try to get better results.”
The 55-year-old’s stance contrasts sharply with Elkann’s recent comments, which sparked widespread debate in the paddock. Vasseur’s long history with Leclerc—stretching back 16 years to their junior formula days—has given him insight into how the Monegasque driver channels frustration into progress. According to the team principal, that emotional intensity translates into tangible improvements when channelled correctly within Ferrari’s internal debrief sessions.
Leclerc’s critical nature viewed as competitive asset
Vasseur described Leclerc’s perpetual dissatisfaction as a fundamental trait that has defined the driver’s approach throughout their shared career. The Ferrari boss characterised this mindset not as negativity but as the relentless pursuit of perfection that separates championship contenders from also-rans.
“I know Charles for 10 years, 16 years and he was always like this,” Vasseur explained. “He was always complaining about everything. But it’s a positive dynamic that we are there just to do a better job. It doesn’t matter if you are P4, P3, P1. The DNA is to do a better job.”
This philosophy extends equally to Hamilton, whose arrival from Mercedes was intended to inject seven-time world champion experience into Ferrari’s title bid. Instead, both drivers endured a frustrating campaign marked by mechanical failures and strategic missteps. Hamilton’s description of the Brazilian Grand Prix double retirement as “a nightmare” exemplified the season’s struggles, yet Vasseur interprets such candour as evidence of the standards required at Maranello.
Demanding drivers seen as catalyst for improvement
Far from seeking to muzzle his drivers, Vasseur revealed he would be deeply concerned if either Hamilton or Leclerc expressed satisfaction with Ferrari’s current performance. The team principal framed their criticism as an essential component of the organisation’s recovery strategy heading into next season’s regulatory reset.
“I would be destroyed if I had the drivers telling me that we are doing a good job,” Vasseur admitted. “The summary of the season for a driver is to find where we can improve. Always that I’m not there to have [drivers telling me] ‘we are doing a good job on this and this and this’.”
The Frenchman emphasised that both drivers fulfil their responsibilities by identifying weaknesses across every department—from simulator work and setup procedures to aerodynamic development and race execution. This approach mirrors the dynamic that existed during Ferrari’s 2024 championship fight with McLaren, which extended to the final corner of the season despite ultimately ending in defeat.
Vasseur noted that even when Ferrari came agonisingly close to the constructors’ title last year, Leclerc maintained the same relentless focus on areas requiring refinement. That consistency of approach, regardless of immediate results, represents the mentality Ferrari believes will restore it to the front of the grid when new technical regulations arrive in 2026.
What this means going forward
As Ferrari prepares for a critical off-season, the public backing Vasseur has given his drivers signals internal unity despite external scrutiny. The team faces significant pressure to transform its 2025 struggles into competitive machinery under revised regulations, with both Leclerc and Hamilton having demonstrated their willingness to demand excellence from every department.
The contrasting messages from Elkann and Vasseur highlight differing perspectives within Ferrari’s leadership structure, yet the team principal’s operational authority ensures driver feedback continues to shape development priorities. With testing for the new regulatory era approaching, Ferrari’s ability to convert criticism into concrete performance gains will determine whether this culture of demanding accountability delivers the championship success that has eluded Maranello since 2008. Both drivers remain committed to pushing the organisation forward, and Vasseur’s endorsement of that approach suggests Ferrari’s internal dynamics remain aligned despite a season that fell short of all expectations.
