Ferrari Principal Vasseur Blames Media Rumors for Team Turmoil

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has expressed strong frustration with Italian media for spreading unfounded rumors that questioned his and Charles Leclerc's futures with the team, which he said caused significant turmoil within Ferrari. The speculation intensified around the Canadian Grand Prix, coinciding with delays in confirming Vasseur's contract extension and misleading reports linking Leclerc to Mercedes and blaming technical director Loïc Serra for the SF-25 car's issues. Vasseur criticized the modern media environment driven by aggressive reporting and the pressure to generate clicks, which he believes amplified the emotional reactions of Ferrari's passionate Italian fanbase. Despite the rumors, Ferrari confirmed Vasseur's contract extension ahead of the summer break, but his future remains dependent on the team's performance in the coming season. Vasseur emphasized that neither he nor Ferrari initiated the rumors and lamented the negative impact such distractions have on the team's focus during a critical phase of the Formula 1 season. He also defended Leclerc's commitment and Serra's role in the car's development, dismissing the media's speculative claims as baseless.