In a rare show of cross-team solidarity, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has passionately defended his Ferrari counterpart Fred Vasseur, urging Italian fans and media to give the Frenchman the time and space needed to reshape the iconic Scuderia.
As Ferrari endures another season of frustration without a clear path to victory – and with Vasseur facing intensified scrutiny at home – Wolff has stepped up to publicly advocate for patience, stressing that Formula 1 success doesn't come overnight, and even less so at Maranello.
Speaking at the Austrian Grand Prix, Wolff was asked how important it is to give team bosses enough runway to execute their vision – particularly in light of recent Italian press speculation over Vasseur’s future.
"In Formula 1 you can't buy time, and you need to give senior leadership the time to get on top of things," Wolff replied.
“Jean Todt, if I'm not wrong, joined the team [Ferrari] in 1993. They won the first championship in 2000. Eight years. That's how it goes.”
Success Comes in Cycles
Wolff, who has led Mercedes since 2013, noted that dominance in F1 “comes in cycles”, with all powerhouse teams going through tough spells.
"It comes in cycles. Look at us,” he continued. “I'm not enjoying being in a phase that it's the third year in a row that we're not fighting for a championship.
“We're not useless. We have really good weekends. We're winning races. It's respectable at times. And when it's not good, nobody's questioning whether the top guy is doing a good job or not.
“Leave him the space. Let him do. Allow him to structure an organisation that isn't going to grip from day one. Loic is there six months or seven months. They need to just let them do."
Wolff was referring to Loic Serra, the former Mercedes performance engineer who recently joined Ferrari under Vasseur’s leadership – a key piece in the ongoing rebuild of the team.
"If I wasn't here, I’d take Fred"
Wolff didn’t just defend Vasseur – he outright endorsed him. Asked how he rates the Ferrari boss as a leader, Wolff didn’t hesitate.
"Fred is one of the best racing managers that I know. If I wasn't here, I would take Fred," he said.
"So, I respect him a lot. He's a great personality. He's a straightforward guy. He doesn't do politics and lies, and he knows what he's talking about."
It was a strong show of admiration for a man leading one of Mercedes’ main rivals, and a rare admission that sometimes, the best man for the job is already on the other side of the paddock.
Managing Ferrari: Not Just a Job — a National Obsession
Wolff also acknowledged that part of the pressure Vasseur faces is uniquely Italian, driven by the country’s intense passion for Ferrari, which he likened to managing a national football team.
"He's perfectly aware that in Italy, he's like managing the football national team and you're going to have the scrutiny from the media," Wolff said.
"Maybe that's something you need to grow a little bit of a thick skin [for], because if he wins, he is Jesus Christ. And if you lose, you're a loser.
©Ferrari
"That's how Italy is, and that's fantastic. That's the passion that's there and you've got to embrace that. And maybe that's something he needs to learn.”
“But he should be given the confidence to run this team. They won't get anybody better."
Wolff’s call for calm and patience is not just a gesture of sportsmanship but a reminder that in Formula 1, building a championship-winning team is a marathon, not a sprint – even when the tifosi are already at the finish line, waiting.
In the high-strung world of F1, it’s rare for rival bosses to speak so openly and candidly about one another. But in Wolff’s eyes, the path forward for Ferrari is clear: trust the process – and trust Fred.
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