Fred Vasseur pinpoints Ferrari’s ‘real trauma’ in ground-effect F1 era

Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur opened up about the trauma faced by the Italian team at the start of the ground-effect era in F1.

Fred Vasseur pinpoints Ferrari’s ‘real trauma’ in ground-effect F1 era

Charles Leclerc and Fred Vasseur (via IMAGO)

Ferrari signed Fred Vasseur as its team principal at the start of 2023. The Frenchman was given the task to get the Scuderia back to title contention after a failed campaign in 2022. Now, Vasseur has pinpointed the ‘traumatic’ failure of the first season in the ground-effect era.

The 56-year-old revealed that the Italian team started working on the 2022 regulations six months before the rest of the grid, including the likes of Red Bull and Mercedes. However, Charles Leclerc failed to defeat Max Verstappen for the championship. This was seen as a massive failure at Maranello.

Ferrari started the 2022 project six months before all the others and experienced second place as a failure. 2022 was a great season in terms of results, but it was perceived as a missed opportunity.

Fred Vasseur told AutoHebdo
YouTube video

Fred Vasseur highlighted that the failed title bid was extremely frustrating for the entire team. He went as far as calling it the ‘real trauma’ for the Prancing Horse. Vasseur claimed that he was tasked with bringing back calmness and serenity back to the Ferrari garage when he took the reigns in 2023.

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This was a source of great frustration within the team. That season was a real trauma, we had to bring back calm and serenity.

Fred Vasseur added

Ferrari ready to fight for F1 title under ‘positive’ atmosphere

Since then, things have changed drastically at Maranello. Fred Vasseur emphasized that Ferrari was ready to battle it out for both championships in 2025, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc optimistic about the SF-25. Moreover, the Frenchman insisted that the atmosphere within the team had become much more positive.

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton (via Scuderia Ferrari)

We want to fight for both championships, because we know we have two drivers able to do it, and the atmosphere in the team is very positive.

Fred Vasseur noted

Fred Vasseur has changed the work culture at Ferrari in the past two years. However, 2025 might be the biggest test for the Frenchman’s leadership as the Tifosi expect the team to be in contention for the title. As such, it remains to be seen if the Scuderia can finally end its title drought in Formula 1 this season.