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Vowles Defends Vasseur as Ferrari Boss Faces Mounting Pressure
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has received a public show of support from one of his Formula 1 peers amid increasing criticism and speculation surrounding his future with the iconic team.
The Frenchman took over from Mattia Binotto ahead of the 2023 season, tasked with reviving Ferrari’s fortunes and bringing championship success back to Maranello. Despite high hopes and a strong campaign last year that saw the team battle for the constructors’ championship until the final race, Ferrari’s 2025 season has fallen short of expectations. With less than half of this year’s races completed, Ferrari is already trailing behind key rivals in the standings, leaving fans and pundits questioning whether Vasseur is the right man for the job.
Vasseur has recently come under fire in the media, with some questioning his leadership and strategy decisions. However, ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, he pushed back against the critical narratives, defending his position and highlighting the ongoing work within the team to improve performance.
Adding his voice to the discussion, Williams team principal James Vowles offered a strong vote of confidence in Vasseur’s abilities and character. Speaking to reporters in Montreal, Vowles emphasized the importance of perspective and experience when evaluating the pressures of running a Formula 1 team.
“I’ve known Fred for probably 20 years or so,” Vowles stated. “Fred is an incredibly good leader. What you see him doing here in front of you today is shouldering all of this pressure—because that’s our job. That’s what leaders do.”
Vowles, who recently extended his own contract with Williams, spoke candidly about the mental toll harsh media narratives can have on team principals. “His point is actually valid,” he continued. “For me personally, it’s never caused me grief or upset. But what I’ve seen it do is destroy individuals—because of a single line written by someone who may or may not know the full story behind it.”
Vowles’ support comes at a time when Ferrari is still searching for its first win of the 2025 season. While their SF-25 car has shown flashes of speed, it hasn’t consistently matched the performance of rivals such as McLaren and Mercedes. Despite this, Vowles believes Ferrari is moving in the right direction under Vasseur’s leadership.
“I have all the respect in the world for Fred and what he is doing at Ferrari,” Vowles added. “They are competitive, and they are moving forward. Simple as that.”
Ferrari’s star-studded driver lineup of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton has kept the team in the spotlight, but results have been hard to come by. Heading into the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix, Ferrari sits behind both McLaren and Mercedes in the constructors’ championship, a situation far from ideal for a team with title aspirations.
Nevertheless, Vasseur retains the backing of key figures within the paddock, and support like that from Vowles may prove vital as the Frenchman continues his quest to return Ferrari to the summit of Formula 1. The challenge remains immense, but with internal belief and external support, the mission is far from over.
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