From January 9, Frédéric Vasseur will take over the management of Ferrari in Formula 1, the Italian team announced on Tuesday December 13. The Frenchman replaces the Italian Mattia Binotto, who was pushed out at the end of November after three seasons in this position.
Frédéric Vasseur, 54, is leaving his position as president of the Swiss Sauber team and director of Alfa Romeo at the same time to join the Scuderia. Former manager of the Renault team for the return of the French brand to F1 in 2016, the Parisian had taken the helm of Sauber – which drives under the name of Alfa Romeo in the queen category – the following year to continue to build a solid reputation in the paddock.
“Throughout his career, Fred has successfully combined his technical strengths as an engineer by training with a consistent ability to bring out the best in his drivers and teams.Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna insisted. This approach and his leadership is what we need to drive Ferrari forward with renewed energy. »
Sacre de Kimi Raikkonen in 2007
Shortly before the announcement of the Scuderia, Alfa Romeo had bid farewell to its leader: “Thank you, Fred, and good luck”was it written in the release of the team, which welcomed “the last chapter of a personal and professional journey of growth, both for the team and for the individual”. And to remember that this journey ended with “his best result in the Formula 1 constructors’ standings for a decade with a sixth place in the 2022 season”.
By appointing for the second time a Frenchman at the head of its sports management, Ferrari intends to remember the memory of the glorious years of Jean Todt (1993-2007), seven times titled among manufacturers and six times among drivers. Since 2007 and the coronation of Kimi Raikkonen, the Scuderia has not removed the world crown among drivers; since 2008 with manufacturers. Frédéric Vasseur’s mission: to win back the world title with the Monegasque pilots Charles Leclerc and the Spaniard Carlos Sainz.