Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher has raised concerns about the atmosphere inside Ferrari, suggesting that tensions between Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and team principal Fred Vasseur could be undermining the team’s progress. Schumacher has also voiced fears over Vasseur’s health, warning that the Frenchman could decide to step down at the end of the season.
Ferrari has recovered impressively from a disappointing pre-season, delivering stronger performances as the current Formula 1 campaign has progressed. However, Schumacher believes the results on track may be masking deeper problems within the Scuderia.
Speaking on Sky’s Backstage Boxengasse podcast, the former Jordan, Williams and Toyota driver questioned whether Ferrari’s two drivers were sufficiently focused on the team’s collective ambitions rather than their own rivalry.
Schumacher questions Hamilton and Leclerc rivalry
Schumacher believes the relationship between Hamilton and Leclerc could become a problem if their personal battle takes priority over Ferrari’s pursuit of victories.
“Charles and Lewis are only fighting against each other at the moment. That has to come from somewhere. Someone has to tell them: It doesn’t matter if you finish third and fourth, fourth and third, third and second, it’s about winning. And you get the feeling that the rivalry between the two isn’t helping the team,” Schumacher explained.
The seven-time world champion Hamilton joined Ferrari after leaving Mercedes, arriving with the expectation that he could help return the Italian outfit to championship-winning form.
Leclerc, meanwhile, has spent his entire career at Ferrari since joining the team in 2019 and remains determined to secure his first drivers’ world championship.
Managing two highly ambitious drivers is a familiar challenge for Formula 1 team principals. Schumacher’s concern is that Ferrari must ensure their competition benefits the team rather than creating divisions within it.
Hamilton and Vasseur relationship under scrutiny
Schumacher also questioned whether Hamilton enjoys the same relationship with Vasseur as Leclerc appears to have.
He suggested that Leclerc and the Ferrari team principal were “closer” than Hamilton and Vasseur, raising doubts about the working relationship between the British driver and the man responsible for leading Ferrari.
“You always get the feeling he’s going his own way. I don’t know if that’s good for the team,” Schumacher said.
His comments suggest that he sees a potential disconnect between Hamilton and Ferrari’s leadership, although he did not provide specific evidence of a dispute between the pair.
Hamilton’s arrival was one of the most significant driver moves in recent Formula 1 history, bringing a seven-time world champion into a team already built around Leclerc.
The challenge for Vasseur is to ensure that both drivers remain aligned with Ferrari’s broader objectives while maintaining a competitive environment capable of delivering championship success.
Could Vasseur leave Ferrari at the end of the season?
Schumacher’s most serious concerns, however, relate to Vasseur’s health and whether the pressure of leading Ferrari could eventually prompt him to walk away.
“I’m a little worried. Fred Vasseur has lost nine kilos. He missed an evening in Monaco and had heart problems. Of course, I hope he’s fit enough, but you can tell. And that’s my biggest worry. That he’ll say, ‘My health is more important to me than this, I also have a family.’ We’ll have to wait and see what happens by the end of the year,” Schumacher said.
The former driver stopped short of predicting that Vasseur would definitely resign, but he believes the possibility cannot be dismissed.
Leading Ferrari brings considerable pressure, with expectations from the Italian media, supporters and senior management often placing the team principal under intense scrutiny. Even when results improve, the responsibility of returning the Scuderia to the top of Formula 1 remains substantial.
However, Schumacher’s remarks about Vasseur’s weight loss and reported health problems do not establish that the team principal intends to leave. No resignation has been confirmed in the comments provided.
For Ferrari, the priority will be maintaining its progress on track while ensuring that its leadership and drivers remain united. Whether the concerns raised by Schumacher point to a wider internal problem or simply reflect the pressures of competing at the highest level remains to be seen.
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The Judge, a nom de plume of an experienced F1 journalist and site founder with long-standing sources across the paddock. With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
