Vasseur acknowledges that the Ferrari contract has not been renewed yet.

      "I feel angry when they criticize the team."

      Frederic Vasseur has acknowledged that his contract with Ferrari, which is set to expire in 2026, has not yet been renewed. The Frenchman expressed his frustration regarding reports from leading Italian newspapers, Corriere della Sera and La Gazzetta dello Sport, suggesting that the Maranello-based team is contemplating his dismissal.

      "I don't want to dwell on it," Vasseur stated to Sky Italia in Montreal, after also expressing his frustration in front of the media during the FIA press conference. "Journalists don't decide who we replace. This is detrimental to the team's focus and the overall atmosphere. Approaching it in this manner just drags everyone down.

      "The criticism directed at me isn't the issue - I become upset when they attack the team."

      However, when asked about the discussions concerning his contract renewal with Ferrari, the 57-year-old seemed to confirm the speculation that his three-year agreement will conclude on December 31. "We still have time to talk about it," Vasseur maintained. "There’s time."

      Support for Vasseur is coming from notable figures beyond just his drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Williams team principal James Vowles referred to him as an "incredibly good leader." "I hold Fred in the highest regard for what he is doing at Ferrari," he remarked, "because they are competitive and making progress."

      Even F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, who has faced similar challenges with Ferrari, has voiced his strong support for Vasseur. "Leave Frederic Vasseur alone," he stated to L’Equipe in France. "He is performing excellently and needs to remain focused and steadfast on his goals. He must tune out this external pressure and conserve all his energy for his work.

      "I told him, and now I’ll tell you officially - I have confidence in him. He must not succumb to the pressure from these criticisms, as they will always exist. Let him work free of distractions - that is how Ferrari will rise to the top again," Domenicali added.

      Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, however, remarked to Sky Deutschland that it’s clear Vasseur’s position is a topic of discussion behind closed doors. "For me, this whole scenario feels like déjà vu," he commented. "Before my brother (Michael) became a world champion with Ferrari, a similar situation unfolded. Jean Todt faced a lot of pressure.

      "That’s the nature of Italy, and we understand the expectations. Based on what we hear, Fred had a three-year contract, so now it’s a matter of whether it will be renewed," Schumacher noted.