Ferrari Chief Executive Officer Benedetto Vigna addressed rumors surrounding team principal Fred Vasseur, pointing to unfounded media reports and emphasizing the importance of verifying information as reported by Motorsport.com.
Vigna and Drivers Defend Vasseur Against Speculation
Vigna noted that repeating a story can cause it to be perceived as true regardless of its origin, creating unnecessary pressure and noise that reaches the team and their families. Vigna urged critics to check facts with their own eyes, stating, Ma fai una verifica, osserva con i tuoi occhi!
Drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton also defended their team principal. Leclerc described the recurring rumors as absurd and disrespectful given that everyone gives their absolute maximum, noting that such unfounded stories resurface every three or four years. Leclerc added that Vasseur understands what each person needs to perform at their best, explaining in Sepang that this is exactly what a team principal must excel at. Hamilton stated that Vasseur is not going anywhere, holds his full support, and serves as a fantastic leader.
Leclerc Posts Fastest Time in Second Practice Session
On the track front, the Ferrari team seemed stuck in the same position as Canada 2025 as drivers arrived in Malaysia to face familiar questions. Leclerc posted the fastest time in the second free practice session at Sepang in a session where teams focused on race pace simulations due to impending rain, finishing ahead of Isack Hadjar with Red Bull trailing by a mere 99 milliseconds and Lando Norris taking third for McLaren. Hamilton recorded the fifth-fastest time, while Max Verstappen topped the opening session eight milliseconds ahead of Leclerc’s FP2 benchmark. Vigna maintained that the single-seater must improve because opponents have done a better job so far, framing it as a technical evaluation rather than a leadership crisis. Sunday’s action brings the Bahrain Grand Prix to the schedule, an event originally postponed to April due to the outbreak of war in the Middle East.
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