Vasseur poised for a new Ferrari agreement amidst Spa improvements.
An effort to enhance the on-track performance package
Amid ongoing speculation regarding his long-term position, Frederic Vasseur is reportedly expected to receive at least a one-year contract extension to continue as Ferrari team principal through 2026.
Italy’s Autosprint asserts that senior Ferrari management has decided to support Vasseur despite previous rumors suggesting the team might reorganize its structure, potentially adopting a system similar to that of McLaren or Sauber, with a CEO positioned above the team principal.
The pressure on Vasseur escalated following the high-profile recruitment of Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari for 2025 and beyond. While Hamilton’s presence is commercially significant, it has yet to yield the desired outcomes on the track.
Former Haas team principal Gunther Steiner believes the elevated expectations surrounding the Hamilton-Ferrari collaboration have contributed to the current challenges. "Lewis Hamilton is the only driver in Formula 1 who transcends a team in terms of presence and charisma," Steiner commented on the Business of Sport podcast. "He excels even beyond the sport, and when you bring that into Ferrari, you create a conflict of stature - who is greater? Ferrari or Hamilton?
"It was an incredible narrative - a seven-time world champion joining Ferrari - but we may have set expectations too high. Now that results are lacking, there’s a sense of disappointment among people.
"If I were at Ferrari, I wouldn’t have hired him. That's merely my viewpoint. I don’t think Ferrari required him."
Nonetheless, Ferrari is steadfast in its efforts to enhance the on-track package. This weekend at Spa, the team plans to unveil not just one, but two significant updates: a long-anticipated new rear suspension design—marking the first major development under new technical chief Loic Serra—and a lighter rear wing, which Eurosport Italia has reported is also being considered for usage at Monza.
The rear suspension was tested during a filming day at Mugello last week with both drivers, including Charles Leclerc, and is thought to provide an improvement of approximately one-tenth of a second per lap.
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