Vasseur is 'doing well' in his absence as initial updates come in.

Vasseur is 'doing well' in his absence as initial updates come in.

      Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur was unable to attend the Monaco qualifying session due to being hospitalized for medical evaluations. The Italian team announced shortly before qualifying that the 58-year-old Frenchman would not be at the circuit, specifying that he was undergoing local assessments and would stay under observation. Ferrari did not reveal the specifics of the situation but expressed hope for Vasseur’s quick return to the track.

      His deputy, former Formula 1 driver Jerome d’Ambrosio, took over the team's responsibilities in Monaco. "Without going into specifics, he’s doing well," d’Ambrosio stated to Sky Italia. "He had to undergo some tests today, but he’s doing well."

      Charles Leclerc also aimed to reassure Ferrari supporters following the qualifying session. "Fred was quite involved today, even though he wasn’t at the track," said the Monegasque driver. "We miss him here, but he was still supporting us."

      While the reason for Vasseur’s hospital visit hasn't been officially confirmed, Germany’s Bild reported that he has been dealing with chronic back and disc issues for years. The publication mentioned that the pain has occasionally been so intense during long flights that Vasseur couldn’t stay seated. It remains uncertain if these problems are related to his absence in Monaco.

      Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport also highlighted that Vasseur faced back issues in 2024 and underwent surgery following that. His absence came at a time when Ferrari experienced a disappointing qualifying session. Lewis Hamilton claimed P3 while Leclerc struggled, expressing frustration over persistent braking issues. "Very disappointed," he remarked. "I'm not surprised, because for the last two weekends, I haven’t felt comfortable with the car, especially with the brakes. It’s a known problem, and hopefully we can resolve it for Barcelona."

      This setback follows the recent announcement of a contract extension for Leclerc. Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore stated that the decision was wise for both parties. "That was his decision," Briatore told Corriere della Sera. "Now he completely identifies with Ferrari, so it was right for him to renew and right for Ferrari to keep him. He’s a great driver—fast and intelligent."

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Vasseur is 'doing well' in his absence as initial updates come in.

Formula 1 | Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur was unable to attend the Monaco qualifying session as he was hospitalized for medical evaluations. The Italian team confirmed (…)