Toto Wolff forces Ferrari to face brutal team boss reality

Toto Wolff has called for Fred Vasseur to toughen up, while also launching a staunch defence of the F1 team principal.

The Frenchman has come under fire from the Italian media in 2025, after a disappointing season for Ferrari and their two drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

Reports from Italy even went as far as to suggest the team principal would be replaced, forcing Vasseur to confront the media over the rumours and for his drivers to leap to his defence.

Wolff has become a recent figure to support Vasseur, but suggested the 57-year-old needs to get used to the strong opinions delivered by the tifosi.

“Maybe that’s something you need to grow a little bit of a thick skin, because if he wins, he is Jesus Christ, and if you lose, you’re a loser. That’s how Italy is. That’s fantastic,” he said to the media.

“That’s the passion that is in there. You’ve got to embrace that. Maybe that’s something he needs to learn. But the rest, he should be given the confidence in running this team. They won’t get anybody better.”

Wolff defends Vasseur at Ferrari

Wolff also warned Ferrari against making an abrupt decision regarding their leadership, and referenced the Jean Todt-Michael Schumacher era to evidence how long a championship winning project takes.

“It seems to be a bit of a revolving door with teams generally,” Wolff continued.

“I think in F1, you can’t buy time, and you need to give senior leadership the time to get on top of things.

“Today we talked about Jean Todt. Jean Todt, if I’m not wrong, joined the [Ferrari] team in 1993 and they won the first championship in 2000. ‘93, ‘94, ‘95, ‘96, ‘97, ‘98, ‘99, 2000. Eight years. That’s how it goes, and it comes at cycles.”

The Mercedes team principal echoed the sentiments of Hamilton and Leclerc, who maintained complete confidence in the abilities of Vasseur, and gave a glowing character assessment of his rival.

“Fred is one of the best racing managers that I know,” Wolff added.

“If I wasn’t here, I would take Fred. So, I respect him a lot. He’s a great personality. He’s a straightforward guy. He doesn’t do politics and lies. He knows what he’s talking about.

“He just needs to be given the trust to run this. He’s perfectly aware that in Italy, it’s like managing the football national team. You’re going to have the scrutiny from the media."

F1 HEADLINES: Verstappen Mercedes meeting given go ahead as update issued on shock driver transfer

READ MORE: F1 champion confirms season-end departure

READ MORE: F1 drivers height: How tall are Hamilton, Verstappen and Tsunoda

Related

Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton's 12-year relationship prompts frank love life admission

• 2 hours ago

Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton relationship BANNED by Ferrari boss

• Yesterday 19:57