Fred Vasseur now ‘blaming’ one departed Ferrari chief for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s issues
Ferrari’s struggles in the 2025 season have been well-documented, and the team’s qualifying performance at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was a stark reminder of the challenges they face. For the first time in Ferrari’s history, neither of their drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, started in the top 10 at Imola.
Despite Hamilton’s impressive recovery to finish fourth on Sunday, and Leclerc’s sixth-place finish, both drivers were visibly frustrated with their one-lap pace. This has been a recurring issue throughout the season, with Ferrari struggling to extract performance from the SF-25 over a single lap.
The team’s difficulties in getting the most out of new tires have been particularly evident, which may explain why they appear more competitive mid-race. Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur and his technical team are under pressure to find solutions to these problems, and it seems that a key figure involved in the design of last year’s car is being blamed for Ferrari’s current difficulties.
According to a report from Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, Vasseur’s public statements on the matter are “not convincing” many observers that the team fully understands the root of the car’s problems. Furthermore, the report suggests that Vasseur has been “busy blaming” former technical director Enrico Cardile for the poor state the team finds itself in this year.
Cardile, who joined Aston Martin as their new chief technical officer, has been prevented by Ferrari from starting work until July of this year. He will join a high-profile team that includes Andy Cowell and Adrian Newey, as part of Lawrence Stroll’s ambitious project.
However, Italian daily newspaper Il Corriere dello Sport questions how Cardile can be blamed for this season’s shortcomings, considering he was among those who helped Ferrari make significant progress during the second half of last year.
As Cardile prepares to start his new role at Aston Martin, he will be under pressure to deliver results quickly. Newey is reportedly focusing exclusively on Aston Martin’s 2026 car, as the technical regulations change over the winter. However, it’s been speculated that Newey may have been consulted regarding this year’s Aston Martin after their strong update package at Imola.
Aston Martin boasts one of the strongest technical teams in the paddock, with Cowell and Newey on board. However, there are questions about whether Newey and Cardile will be able to collaborate smoothly, given their differing philosophies on aerodynamics.
Ultimately, if Ferrari continues to struggle and results don’t improve, Vasseur’s decision to point the finger at a former technical leader may not be well received by upper management. The team needs to find solutions to their problems, and fast, if they want to get back to competing at the top level.
