Fred Vasseur is the new director of the Ferrari team, replacing Mattia Binotto, who resigned just two weeks ago. The Frenchman will take over the Italian Formula 1 team from January 2023, when he will officially step down as chief executive of Sauber Motorsport and head of Alfa Romeo, where he has worked for the past six years.
"I am truly delighted and honored. As someone who has always had a passion for motorsports, Ferrari has always represented the pinnacle of the racing world for me. I look forward to working with the talented and passionate team at Maranello to honor history and the legacy of the team and fulfill our tifosi around the world", said Vasseur in statements offered by the Prancing Horse team.
The Frenchman began his career in the great circus in 2016, when he led the Renault team. Then, in mid-2017, he took over the reins of Alfa Romeo, a team whose engines are supplied by Ferrari and which this past season finished sixth in the manufacturers' standings with drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu.
"I owe a debt of gratitude to every single employee on the team, as they are the ones who got this team back on its feet and up the ladder of our sport. I am proud of the work we have done collectively as a team and company, and even more so from the solid foundations we have laid," said Vasseur of his time at Alfa Romeo.
Now, the 54-year-old Frenchman assumes the challenge of returning the successes to the Ferrari team, which has not won a driver's title since 2007, with Räikkönen, and the constructors' title since 2008. This last course Charles Leclerc was runner-up, although 146 points behind Max Verstappen, and the Spanish Carlos Sainz finished fifth in the drivers' standings.
"We are delighted to welcome Vasseur to Ferrari. Throughout his career, he has successfully combined his technical strengths as a trained engineer with a consistent ability to bring out the best in his drivers and teams. This approach and his leadership are what that we need to propel Ferrari with renewed energy”, said Benedetto Vigna, CEO of Ferrari.
