F1 News: Ferrari Chief Dismisses Blame Culture Claims

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has branded claims of a 'blame culture' in the team as "false".

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has put down the idea of a blame culture within the Maranello-based squad, claiming the rumours are "false". 

Vasseur joined the team at the beginning of the year after Mattia Binotto stepped down at the end of 2022. The Frenchman made the move from Sauber where he was the managing director and CEO of Sauber Motorsport AG as well as team principal of the Alfa Romeo F1 Team. Prior to his time with Sauber, Vasseur was the team principal for the Renault F1 team. 

During a recent interview with La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Vasseur spoke about how he is finding life with the Ferrari team since he joined. When he was asked what he liked the most about working in the team, he responded:

"The passion around the team, which is mega. Every morning when I get to the office there are people 'charged' in front of the entrance. It's a big push, even if sometimes it doesn't help when you need time and calm to grow."

Ferrari Press Image

Moving onto the work ethic within the team and claims of a blame culture, Vasseur continued:

"Then the working climate: in the paddock, when it was speculated that I might come to Ferrari, everyone said to me 'you'll see what a mess, what infighting'. This is completely false. 

"It is an idea that people have formed and have used to repeating. But if I compare Ferrari to other teams, even those I've been to, the atmosphere is very good. I'm always critical of myself, and I push everyone: the worst for a team is to be complacent and relaxed. We argue a lot , and today in Ferrari around a table we don't blame each other".