Ferrari have announced that Frederic Vasseur has been appointed as their new Formula 1 Team Principal, replacing Mattia Binotto. Vasseur left Alfa Romeo after six seasons on Tuesday morning to take up the post following Binotto's departure from the helm in Maranello, a post he had held since 2019. Ferrari bosses John Elkann and Benedetto Vigna were unhappy after Binotto failed to lead a sustained championship push in 2022, with his resignation being tendered after the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. In his place, Ferrari have acted quickly to appoint Vasseur, who also had a brief spell in charge of the Renault (now Alpine) squad in 2016. He will join Ferrari as Team Principal and General Manager on January 9th, 2023 - which suggests less corporate responsibility will be placed on Vasseur with a Managing Director or CEO being brought in above him as Binotto had held the roles of Team Principal and Managing Director. Before his time in F1, Vasseur ran the successful ART Grand Prix squad in GP2 - helping the likes of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton to the series title in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
Vasseur reacts to Ferrari appointment
"I am truly delighted and honoured to take over the leadership of Scuderia Ferrari as Team Principal," Vasseur said in a team statement. "As someone who has always held a lifelong passion for motorsport, Ferrari has always represented the very pinnacle of the racing world to me. "I look forward to working with the talented and truly passionate team in Maranello to honour the history and heritage of the Scuderia and deliver for our Tifosi around the world." Ferrari CEO Vigna praised Vasseur for how he has "combined his technical strengths as a trained engineer with a consistent ability to bring out the best in his drivers and teams." He also added that "this approach and his leadership are what we need to push Ferrari forward with a renewed energy."
Leclerc links to Vasseur
Vasseur had previously worked closely with driver Charles Leclerc in the junior formulas as well as at Sauber in 2018 during the Monegasque's rookie campaign. Addressing claims that it would be Vasseur to take over at the FIA prize gala last week, Leclerc was firm that their relationship shouldn't be a factor in the hiring process. "I can only comment on my experience with Fred which obviously has been good, I've worked with him already in the junior categories when he believed in me," Leclerc explained. "We've always had a good relationship, but that shouldn't influence any of the decisions. "He's always been very straightforward and very honest - it is something I've liked from Fred."
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