Former Ferrari engineer Luigi Mazzola is concerned that Charles Leclerc won’t renew his contract with the Maranello-based team, with Mazzola not believing that team principal Frederic Vasseur has what it takes to turn things around.
Vasseur has endured a challenging start to life at Ferrari following his switch from Alfa Romeo, with the Italians having found themselves fourth in the pecking order for the bulk of the season so far.
Whilst their qualifying pace has been good, Ferrari have really struggled when it comes to race pace, with Leclerc and Carlos Sainz often finding themselves unable to compete with Aston Martin or Mercedes, let alone Red Bull.
Mazzola believes a lot of it is due to Vasseur having taken the “wrong approach” to solving the team’s issues, with it now making him think that Leclerc will ditch Ferrari for a better seat elsewhere in 2025.
Want to work in Formula 1? Browse the latest F1 job vacancies
“I’m sorry,” Mazzola told Quotidiano Motori, “but I think Vasseur has the wrong approach when it comes to the problems at Ferrari.
“And I say that with full knowledge of the facts,” he insisted.
“Now I fear that (Charles) Leclerc will not renew his contract.”
Mazzola thinks the side are in desperate need of a technical director, something he says they’ve been without for “too many years”.
“Maranello has been missing a technical director for years. Too many years,” he added.
Previously, Mazzola has hit out at the side for not hiring a “dominant” leader, like former team principal Jean Todt or Ross Brawn.
With it still being very early days in Vasseur’s reign, though, Mazzola is prepared to give the Frenchman “some time”.
Despite this, he doesn’t see Vasseur living up to Todt’s legacy, with them simply sharing a “French passport”.
Mazzola has questioned how Vasseur can turn Ferrari into winners again after questioning what the Frenchman has accomplished in his career.
READ: Stefano Domenicali breaks silence on calls for FIA to end Red Bull’s success
“Let’s give him some time,” said Mazzola. “But I’m not sure he can match Jean Todt.
“He shares the French passport with his illustrious predecessor – we’ll see about the rest.
“But Todt had already won everything at Peugeot before going to Maranello. What has Vasseur won in his career?”