James Vowles raises the Ferrari innovation in F1 2026, as Frederic Vasseur responds to rumours and relations with his bosses.
Vasseur has found support from rival and F1 colleague Williams’ Vowles amid rumours about the Frenchman and his tenure at the Italian manufacturer, who made a special call to defend the Frenchman. After Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc answered the similar question that plagues Ferrari often, the man in the news had to do the same.
Before Vasseur could share his thoughts, Williams F1 team principal Vowles took the opportunity to share his opinion in praise of Ferrari and the innovations brought about in 2026 – something that Hamilton stressed for the Italian manufacturer to do.
Ferrari Innovation Best in F1 2026
Vowles noted how Williams copied the exhaust layout of Ferrari, while the F1 team’s Macarena rear wing has been copied by plenty of other teams on the grid. “I’m just going to add to that,” he said. “Normally, we beat each other up and put knives in our backs, but Ferrari is in the best place it’s been in the championship for a while.
“They have innovation on the car this year with a rear wing and exhaust blowing that we’ve all copied as a result of it. It’s a team that’s doing brilliantly. So, I mean, for me personally, there is no question that Fred is the right person to do this. Obviously, it’s difficult because I haven’t been fully in that position, but from what I can read, yes.
“Fundamentally, I think where it’s different, we all know that, let’s be frank about it, our jobs are on the line. We don’t do a good enough job, that puts us at risk straight away. I think that’s a given. You take that when you take the title. But there’s a difference to how you’re celebrated in success and how you’re punished in failure.
“Generally speaking, we all are. I would say, this is very external when I read it, I would say it’s exaggerated more in a way towards Fred, albeit his predecessors in that role. I think it’s much higher highs, much lower lows. That’s how I see it,” summed up Vowles.
Vasseur Appreciates and Answers Media Queries
Vasseur appreciated the Brit with a ‘thank you’, as he put it on the media for all the questions arising about his future. He expected such a situation anyhow, as he knew it came with a job like his. It is only the personal attacks that he doesn’t wish to happen to anyone.
But he played down the finger-pointing, as Hamilton noted on the hierarchy at Ferrari. The Frenchman said he had a good relationship with both John Elkann and Benedetto Vigna, and that they are in constant touch, playing down any problems with the organization or structure.
On Media For the Rumours –
Vasseur: “I think this you have to ask your colleagues. When you see the noise and all the rumours in the press all the week, I think as a team we need to work in serenity, and it was absolutely not the case. I think the statement was mandatory to do something, or it would have been the same this weekend. But honestly, the big issue that we have today is the stability, the serenity into the team, the focus that we need to have, and not to have this kind of question all the day.”
Structure of the F1 Team, Answers to Hamilton –
Vasseur: “First, about the structure of the team, I think that in the technical equipment at least, it’s a non-end story. It means that you have to improve. I think it’s the DNA of what we are doing, to not take a success as a final situation, but try to improve in the good and the bad moments.
“Honestly, the dynamic that we have, we recruited a lot, but as the other teams, and we are trying to push the limit of everything. On the comment of Lewis, I think it would be a mistake to finger-point someone or something or whatever. In the good moments, we are winning as a team. In the bad moments, we are suffering as a team, and I don’t want to speak about a single individual or whatever.
“Honestly, I think it would be a huge mistake to start to not be unified. We had a good beginning of the season. For sure, it’s not enough. We want to get more, we want to win more, we want to win the championship. But at the end of the day, we had a positive start. We are struggling the last couple of races, but we are hoping to come back soon with development and to be back into the pace.”
Expected to Face Such Questions –
Vasseur: “Thanks to remind me that, I’m starting to be old! No, but for sure, as James said before, when you take the role, you know the positive and the negative side of the job. I was expecting something like this. What is sometimes a bit unfair is when you put someone under the bus, and I’m there also to defend my team, my guys.
“As I said before, when we are winning, we are winning as a team, but when we are struggling, I’m there to defend all of them. I think it’s the right attitude from everybody, from them to defend the Team Principal, from me to defend them when we are struggling. Honestly, I knew what I would get on that. I’m not surprised at all, but sometimes the attacks are a bit personal. It’s not good. We need friendly media.”
Healthy Relation with Bosses –
Vasseur: “Honestly, the relationship that I have with my bosses, Benedetto and John, is a very good one. We are in daily contact, and I can’t complain at all about the organisation. But for sure, you always want to get more, you always want to do more, you always want to recruit more too.”
“I think it’s true for me and it’s true for everybody on the grid, that you always want to do more because it’s the DNA of what we are doing. But honestly, it has nothing to do with the organisation.”
