Rumours true: Frédéric Vasseur takes over as Ferrari F1 boss

In a confirmation of rumours that emerged soon after the completion of the final round of this year’s Formula 1 championship in Abu Dhabi, Ferrari has announced that Frédéric Vasseur will take over the role of team principal from Mattia Binotto on 9 January.

From Sauber to Ferrari

The Frenchman, who had in-charge of the Scuderia’s sister team, Alfa Romeo Sauber since 2017, joins on the back after the departure of Binotto who copped extensive backlash for a series of strategy blunders widely believed to have the cost the Prancing Horse its first title since 2007.

Reportedly, the misjudgements, after a promising start with two victories for star driver Charles Leclerc at the beginning of the season, plus Binotto’s defence of some didn’t sit well with Ferrari chairman John Elkann, who had an apparent falling-out with the Italian in the lead-up the season finale in the United Arab Emirates last month.

“We are delighted to welcome Fred Vasseur to Ferrari as our Team Principal. Throughout his career he has successfully combined his technical strengths as a trained engineer with a consistent ability to bring out the best in his drivers and teams. This approach and his leadership are what we need to push Ferrari forward with renewed energy,” Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said in a joint statement.

Prior to his stint at Sauber, Vasseur held the position of Renault team boss before being replaced at the end of the 2016 season following a well-publicised disagreement with his eventual successor, Cyril Abiteboul.

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“I am truly delighted and honoured to take over the leadership of Scuderia Ferrari as Team Principal. As someone who has always held a lifelong passion for motorsport, Ferrari has always represented the very pinnacle of the racing world to me,” Vasseur said.

“I look forward to working with the talented and truly passionate team in Maranello to honour the history and heritage of the Scuderia and deliver for our tifosi around the world”.

His confirmation at Maranello comes amidst a series of managerial shake-ups in which Williams announced on Monday evening the departure of it team principal, Jost Capito, while a fresh rumour has claimed that McLaren boss, Andreas Seidl, has been lined up as Vasseur’s replacement.

According to motorsport.com, Seidl’s supposed move from Woking to Hinwil will see him take charge of Sauber entering into partnership with Audi in 2026 as the German marque enters Formula 1 for the first time.

While neither nor Sauber has reacted to the rumours, an announced is reportedly on the cards before within the next few weeks.