Ferrari extend Fred Vasseur's contract with F1 team principal handed new multi-year deal ahead of Hungarian GP
Frederic Vasseur signs new multi-year deal at Ferrari; Hamilton labelled principal 'the man to take us back to the top'; Vasseur on new deal: 'I'm grateful for the trust Ferrari continues to place in me'; watch the Hungarian Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday
Thursday 31 July 2025 11:04, UK
Ferrari have given team principal Frederic Vasseur a new multi-year contract ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.
Vasseur has been in the post since the beginning of 2023 and was a key element in seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton joining from Mercedes this season.
The 57-year-old came under pressure from the Italian media in May, who reported his job was under threat due to Ferrari not being in this year's title fight.
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Vasseur hit back and said the rumours "hurt" Ferrari, adding he was able to cope with the situation but suggested "disrespectful" and "very harsh" speculation over others working under him was destabilising the team.
Two months later, Ferrari have eradicated any doubts about the Frenchman's future with a contract until at least the end of 2027.
The announcement also confirms former Red Bull boss Christian Horner will not join Ferrari, having previously been linked with the Italian outfit earlier this year.
"I'm grateful for the trust Ferrari continues to place in me. This renewal is not just a confirmation - it's a challenge to keep progressing, to stay focused, and to deliver," said Vasseur.
"Over the past 30 months, we've laid strong foundations, and now we must build on them with consistency and determination. We know what's expected, and we're all fully committed to meeting those expectations and taking the next step forward together."
Ferrari have largely been on an upward trajectory since Vasseur took over from Mattia Binotto at the start of 2023, as they missed out on last season's constructors' title to McLaren by just 14 points.
A strong end to 2024, along with the blockbuster signing of Hamilton to partner Leclerc, raised hopes of a first constructors' triumph since 2008, or a first drivers' title since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007.
Instead, Ferrari have yet to win a Grand Prix this season, while Leclerc has claimed all five of their five podium finishes, leaving the team scrapping for second place with Mercedes and Red Bull in the Constructors' Championship.
"Today we want to recognise what has been built and commit to what still needs to be achieved," Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said. "It reflects our trust in Fred's leadership - a trust rooted in shared ambition, mutual expectations and clear responsibility.
"We move forward with determination and focus, united in our pursuit of the level of performance Ferrari has to aim for."
Croft: Still won't be enough for Ferrari to win championship
Sky Sports' David Croft insisted that while Vasseur's new deal, putting pay to rumours of Christian Horner's link-up with the team, is good news for Ferrari, it will still not be enough to earn them another driver's championship.
"I don't mean to be negative, I just don't think it will be enough because I don't think I'm hearing anything in terms of next season from the engine side of Ferrari that makes me feel they've got the best engine," he said.
"And next year is an engine Formula 1. It's a fuel Formula 1. However good Fred Vasseur is, unless he could design a championship-winning fuel and a championship-winning engine, he's not going to deliver that championship.
"I never believed it (Horner) from the start. It was just pure Formula 1 speculation. Fred's done a really good job of Ferrari, given what he had inherited, trying to find some consistency and some structure within the race team.
"He is the right man for the job, and particularly when you look at both Lewis and Charles Leclerc, he has masterminded their careers from the start, from the outset, he was their team principal in the juniors, and knows how to deal with both. And whatever's going on at Ferrari this year, animosity between the two drivers is not a thing."
Collins: At some point the results will come
Sky Sports' Bernie Collins believes that while there is plenty still do behind the scenes, results will improve at some point.
"Next year's going to be a big challenge for all of the teams," she said. "I think Fred has been given the space now to build the team as he wants to. We've seen signs that's going really well, but more behind the scenes. We've not seen the performance on track. At some point results will come.
"I think we've seen from Ferrari they can design cars. It's about bringing the team together and allow them the space to breathe
"The right staff are there. It might take a few tweaks here and there, but Frank can build that."
Sky Sports F1's Hungarian GP Schedule
Thursday July 31
2pm: Drivers' Press Conference
Friday August 1
8.50am: F3 Practice
10am: F2 Practice
12pm: Hungarian GP Practice One (session starts at 12.30pm)
1.55pm: F3 Qualifying
2.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3.35pm: Hungarian GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Show
Saturday August 2
9am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Hungarian GP Practice Three
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Hungarian GP Qualifying build-up*
3pm: Hungarian GP Qualifying*
Sunday August 3
7.25am: F3 Feature Race
8.55am: F2 Feature Race
10.40am: Porsche Supercup Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Hungarian GP build-up*
2pm: The HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Hungarian GP reaction
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
F1 heads to the Hungarian Grand Prix for the final race before the sport's summer break, watch live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday. For Sky customers, Sky Sports F1 is now found on channel 407. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime
