Fred Vasseur confirmed as new Ferrari team principal after Alfa Romeo exit

Alfa Romeo boss Frederic Vasseur is leaving the F1 team after six seasons to replace Mattia Binotto as Ferrari team principal.

Fred Vasseur leaves Alfa Romeo in January to become Ferrari team principal

Fred Vasseur has been confirmed as the new Ferrari team principal after leaving Alfa Romeo after six seasons.

He succeeds Mattia Binotto after the 53-year-old announced his resignation in light of the squad falling short of title expectations in 2022.

“I am truly delighted and honored to take the helm of Scuderia Ferrari as Team Principal,” Vasseur said.

“As someone who has always had a passion for motorsport, Ferrari has always represented the pinnacle of the racing world to me.

“I look forward to working with the talented and truly passionate team at Maranello to honor the history and heritage of the Scuderia and deliver for our Tifosi around the world.”

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Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali sympathizes with former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto and hopes the team can find the right solution moving forward.

Vasseur arrives having guided Alfa Romeo to sixth place in the Formula 1 constructors’ standings, marking the team’s best result in a decade.

He previously served as Renault’s Team Principal in 2016 before joining Alfa.

Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna added: “We are delighted to welcome Fred Vasseur to Ferrari as Team Principal. Throughout his career he has successfully combined his technical strengths as an engineer by training with a consistent ability to bring out the best in his drivers and teams.

“This approach and his leadership is what we need to drive Ferrari forward with renewed energy.”

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Sky Sports News reporter Craig Slater assesses who could replace Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto, who will leave the team at the end of the year.

Vasseur is tasked with leading Ferrari to a sustained title fight after promise at the start of the season failed to materialize into a threat to Max Verstappen, who won his second consecutive Drivers’ Championship.

Between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, Ferrari failed to register a victory in the last 11 races of the campaign, the former finishing second in the standings but notably 146 points behind Verstappen.

Finn Rausing, Chairman of the Board of Sauber Holding AG, paid tribute to Vasseur’s “inspirational leadership and hard work” to “rebuild” the team.

“He was able to encourage each of us to give our best and the increasingly good results we have enjoyed are a testament to the quality of his performance at the helm of the team,” added Rausing.

“He was the first to believe in our project and he leaves a team much more solid, healthier than when he arrived, with a bright future ahead of us, that’s all we could have asked of him. I’m I’m sure I echo everyone on the team when I wish Fred every success in his future endeavours.”