Paddock rumors say Fred Vasseur will step back from Ferrari role at end of 2026

Ferrari is reportedly preparing for a possible change in team leadership for 2027, but there has been no official confirmation that Fred Vasseur will leave his role.

Contract in place, future unresolved

Vasseur is under contract for 2027. Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said in the Malaysia paddock that he and the team were “focused” on their current work, but did not address Vasseur’s longer-term position. Chief communications officer Maria Conti likewise expressed confidence in the Frenchman, without making a firm declaration about his role next season.

Maher said Ferrari’s default position should be understood as Vasseur continuing, while adding that he and other reporters had been unable to obtain a direct commitment from the team. “We are unable to get anyone to say the words that he will continue as the team boss next year,” he said.

That absence of confirmation is not proof of a change. Maher’s account is that the discussion concerns a potential transition on mutually acceptable terms, rather than Ferrari forcing Vasseur out. He described the proposed step back as a way for Vasseur to move away from a highly public and stressful role and focus more on priorities outside the circuit.

Successor remains uncertain

The report also points to Vasseur’s workload and the scrutiny surrounding the position. One reporter at the circuit described him as visibly fatigued after overseeing 86 races as Ferrari boss. Those observations sit alongside continued public support from both Ferrari and its drivers, leaving the picture unresolved.

Ferrari’s WEC project leader Antonello Coletta has reportedly been approached, but appears reluctant to take the Formula 1 role. Deputy team principal Jerome D’Ambrosio is another possible name, although Maher’s account suggests the team could prefer a fresh start. Neither option has been confirmed, and the drivers’ support for Vasseur adds another unknown to how a potential change would be received.

For now, Ferrari has not announced a succession. The central question remains whether its public confidence in Vasseur will translate into a clear commitment for 2027—or whether the team is preparing for a different leadership structure.