Leclerc: Vasseur ‘emotionally flat’ management really helps Ferrari
Charles Leclerc believes that Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur's "emotionally flat" approach to managing the Scuderia’s affairs has been instrumental in the outfit’s recent resurgence.
Vasseur took over the reins at Ferrari at the start of 2023, succeeding Mattia Binotto.
While the team narrowly missed out on the Constructors' Championship in 2024, finishing second to McLaren, the Italian outfit has demonstrated significant progress under the Frenchman’s leadership.
Given his team’s fiery passion, dramatic highs, and occasionally operatic lows, Leclerc believes Vasseur’s calm and steady demeanor is exactly what Ferrari needs to thrive.
“Where Fred is extremely good is in taking a step back in whatever situation we find ourselves in,” Leclerc explained in an interview with The New York Times.
“That’s very difficult because it’s a sport, and we all care a lot about what we do, we all want to do well, and we are affected whether things go good or bad.”
Ferrari: Passion Meets Pragmatism
Ferrari is no stranger to emotional rollercoasters. From euphoric victories celebrated with champagne showers at Monza to the occasional pit wall meltdown, the Scuderia wears its heart on its sleeve.
That’s where Vasseur’s steady hand has become indispensable insists Leclerc.
“Fred is very emotionally flat, and that helps a team like Ferrari so much because the team is all the opposite, mostly because there’s so much passion within the team.
“Emotions run very high both ways, whether they are good or bad,” Leclerc said.
Picture Ferrari as a wild stallion, brimming with energy and unbridled enthusiasm. Vasseur, in this analogy, is the calm horse whisperer, bringing focus to the chaos.
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Leclerc offered an example of how his team boss handles the post-race debriefs that could otherwise veer into emotional overdrive.
“Fred is the kind of guy that manages straight away, even within a weekend where emotions can be super good or super bad, to take a step back,” he explained.
“Twenty minutes after a race, we all sit down together, and he’s already on a very good analysis, putting emotions aside, and that’s a huge quality to run Ferrari.”
The Eye of the Storm
Since his arrival at Maranello in January 2023, Vasseur has steadily transformed the Scuderia into a serious title contender.
Last season, Ferrari finished just 14 points shy of its first constructors' championship in 16 years, narrowly losing out to McLaren.
Leclerc credits Vasseur’s consistency, something he says has been a hallmark of his management style for years.
“I feel like he’s always had that in himself,” Leclerc said. “He’s always had the consistency.
“Whenever I go and see Fred, I know what to expect. It’s not like there’s any kind of difference in humour or whatever.”
If Vasseur were a coffee, he’d be a double espresso: strong, reliable, and completely unaffected by the chaos around him.
For Leclerc, that dependability has been crucial in keeping the team grounded, even during the most intense moments of the season.
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