Fred Vasseur under threat of FIA fine after slaughtering Italian media

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur faces the prospect of being fined by the FIA after swearing during an official press conference during which he turned on the Italian media.

Vasseur was this week the subject of speculation in a leading Italian newspaper that suggested he could be axed if results for the team failed to improve following a difficult start to the season.

Ferrari was expected to be challenging McLaren for this year's titles after a tight finish to last year's constructors' championship, only to falter with its SF-25 that has only managed three podium finishes, from Charles Leclerc, and a sprint race victory for Lewis Hamilton.

Although again second in the constructors' standings, Ferrari is a staggering 197 points adrift of McLaren, and seemingly with little hope of posing any threat to the Woking-based team.

That prompted claims Vasseur's job was under threat. In addition, the Italian press has also reported recently that Hamilton could retire at the end of the year, and Leclerc was also seeking a move away from Maranello. It has also been suggested Ferrari will be recruiting new faces to replace those already in positions.

On Thursday, Hamilton and Leclerc delivered staunch support for Vasseur. On Friday, in the FIA team principals' press conference, it was the Frenchman's turn to have his say, and he did not hold back.

Asked for his take on the situation, Vasseur even joked at the start that he would have to "stay calm", appreciating the fact he would "have to finish to the stewards".

Under new regulations this year, F1 personnel are prohibited from using expletives in an official media engagement, otherwise they will be forced to see the stewards, and almost certainly fined.

"It's some Italian media, not all Italian media," said Vasseur. "It's not about myself, I think, because this I can manage. It's more about the the people of the team.

"To throw their names like this, I think it's just disrespectful for them, for the family. We had the case last year with the chief of aero already. We had some names this season. I don't know the target. I don't understand the target.

"Perhaps it is to give shit to the team, but in this case, I don't see the point."

It is up to the FIA media delegate on duty at a grand prix to determine whether the use of profanity in an official press conference should be brought to the stewards.

Vasseur - Media reports are 'hurting the team'

Vasseur then rounded further on the Italian media, albeit without resorting to further swear words.

"Perhaps it's for them [the journalists], the only way to exist," added Vasseur. "This is probably more the reason.

"But it's really hurting the team. At one stage, it's a lack of focus, and when you are fighting for the championship, every single detail make the difference, and from the beginning of the weekend, we are just speaking about this.

"If it's their target to put the team in this situation, they have reached their goal.

"But I think it's not like this that we'll be able to win a championship, and at least not with these kinds of journalists around us."

Vasseur then repeated, "I won't go to the stewards for this, huh?"

Asked whether such speculation went with the territory of being team principal, Vasseur replied: "To be the team principal, I knew when I joined, when I took the position, that you are exposed.

"This, I think, is quite easy to manage.

"It's more for the people of the team. They are working very hard, and [for the Italian media] to decide one day that this one will be replaced, this one will be replaced, this one is useless, honestly, it's very, very harsh.

"These journalists, and I'm not putting everybody in the same basket, they have to consider that these people, they have a family, they have a wife, they have kids, and this is completely disrespectful.

"Now I don't want to speak anymore about this stupido."