Charles Leclerc highlights major Ferrari shift with 'cold blooded' Fred Vasseur

Charles Leclerc has hailed the impact of Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, highlighting his “cold-blooded” approach to managing the team.

Ferrari announced late last month it had signed Vasseur to a new long-term contract to lead the Italian squad.

Vasseur has run the day-to-day operations at Ferrari since the 2023 campaign and brought it agonisingly close to constructors' championship success last season.

Despite its on-track challenges this year, Ferrari has placed its long-term faith in the Frenchman, with Vasseur staying in charge as the sport heads into a new era under fresh regulations next year.

Leclerc praised Vasseur for his methods of operating the team in his first three seasons in the role.

“He definitely changed the way we are working on different things,” Leclerc told media including RacingNews365. 

“Where Fred made the biggest difference is his vision, his overall vision. This, he embedded it into the team and that's very important.”

Ferrari sits as the most successful squad in F1 history and has a major following around the world.

However, it faces intense scrutiny in its home country of Italy - a pressure Vasseur is well-equipped to deal with, according to Leclerc.

“I feel that the beauty of Ferrari is the fact that emotionally it's always intense, but it can also harm us in some ways, especially when tougher times arrive,” Leclerc said.

“Fred has always had very cold blood in those moments and helped the team to be a little bit more, lucid.

“That’s the biggest thing Fred has brought to the team.”