Ferrari handed 'cancel noise' verdict after new Fred Vasseur contract

Carlos Sainz believes Ferrari handed Fred Vasseur a new contract to "cancel noise", following speculation that the Frenchman could be axed as team boss. 

It was announced ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix that Vasseur had signed a new multi-year deal, keeping him as the Scuderia's team principal. 

The new contract falls just weeks after Italian media reported that the team boss was set to be axed by the Maranello-based outfit, due to a run of poor results. 

However, a step in the right direction has been made over recent races, with Charles Leclerc being on a run of four podiums in the last six grands prix. 

Lewis Hamilton's progress slowed in Belgium, where he was eliminated in the first part of both sprint qualifying and qualifying for the grand prix – he recovered to seventh in the race. 

Sainz, who joined Williams from Ferrari this season, was unaware that Vasseur was in need of a new contract, and is confident the deal was simply to shut down rumours.

Asked by RacingNews365 for his thoughts on Vasseur's new deal, Sainz responded: "I didn't even know if he needed that renewal or anything. 

"I think, from the outside, it just looks like they want to cancel the noise. Always in Ferrari, there's so much noise. 

"You almost need to announce that you're extending or staying for people not to create a rumour.

"So, yeah, it's always been the case like that over there. But yeah, I'm happy for Fred, because I'm sure he will keep doing a good job."