Ferrari boss hits back at criticism as team becomes “target” after one GP

15 March 2023 , 22:53

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Fred Vasseur is under pressure after the season opener in Bahrain (Image: Getty Images)

Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur has hit back at the criticism of his team and claimed they have become a "target" for the media.

The Scuderia endured a difficult start in Bahrain, with Charles Leclerc forced to retire from third place after his electronics control unit (ECU) failed. The unit has had to be changed for a third time ahead of the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix this weekend, meaning the Monegasque man has been sanctioned with a 10-place penalty for the race in Jeddah.

But Vasseur has other problems to address. The team has been rocked by the departure of chief car concept engineer David Sanchez, with the Frenchman now expected to return to McLaren after more than a decade with the Italian giants.

The future of race director Laurent Mekies is also the subject of speculation, amid reports he's unhappy with the structure under CEO Benedetto Vigna. It's led to many F1 fans referring to a 'crisis' at Ferrari, a notion that Vasseur - who came from Alfa Romeo to replace Mattia Binotto - strongly refutes.

“I’m having a hard time understanding how it is possible for the team to become a target to hit after just one race,” he told AutoHebdo. "We know what went wrong in Bahrain, but there’s nothing that can’t be improved. The correlation between the track and the simulator is good, we are aligned.”

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Vasseur, 54, is also reported to be discontented with his working relationship with Vigna and President John Elkann, feeling he has not been handed enough responsibility. But the Frenchman also denied that suggestion, and warned that unfair perceptions were adversely effecting his team.

Charles Leclerc was gutted to retire from the Bahrain Grand Prix (Ariel Schalit/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

“I’d be tempted to smile if these statements had no impact on the team,” he added. “Personally I have no problems, I know what I want to achieve and I will do it. I hear from John Elkann and Benedetto Vigna every day, I know what they expect from me.”

Carlos Sainz Jnr was fourth in Bahrain, but neither he or Leclerc showed the kind of pace needed to challenge race winner Max Verstappen. Indeed, the Spaniard was overtaken by Fernando Alonso late on, with Aston Martin suddenly touted as the team to threaten Red Bull's dominance.

Ferrari haven't landed a drivers' title since Kimi Raikkonen prevailed in 2007, retaining the Constructors' championship the following season. The new era of F1 regulations had raised hopes of a revival, but after winning two of the first three races in 2022 Leclerc, and Sainz, were plagued by car reliability and strategic blunders for much of the campaign.

Fraser Watson