Ferrari CEO Worries About Friendship Between Toto Wolff And New Team Chief

There's trouble brewing in the world of Formula One, and it involves none other than Ferrari's new team principal, Fred Vasseur. The Frenchman is reportedly in hot water with Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna for travelling to the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix with his good friend and Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff.

Vasseur and Wolff have been friends for years, and their amicable relationship is well-known in the paddock. However, it seems that Vigna is not impressed with the pair's cosiness and has expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

The tension at Ferrari has been mounting since the team's poor showing at the Bahrain Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc retiring from the race due to reliability issues. Leclerc was reportedly so concerned about the situation that he demanded a crisis meeting with Ferrari president John Elkann at the team's headquarters in Maranello.

Despite the team's poor start to the season, new team principal Vasseur is said to be in a "strong position," according to Corriere della Sera. The lack of glory for Ferrari since their last drivers' championship in 2007 and the revolving door of team principals have apparently given Vasseur some breathing room.

But there are deeper issues at play within the Scuderia. The team had made ambitious predictions for the season based on their wind tunnel and simulator data, but they found themselves changing Leclerc's energy supply before the opening race. The SF-23 is reportedly muddled between ideas, with a "technical vacuum" between the reigns of Vasseur and his predecessor, Mattia Binotto.

The situation has reportedly created a "climate of uncertainty and fear" at Ferrari, with several key personnel leaving the team. Head of concept David Sanchez quit his job, while Inaki Rueda may also depart after his job as Head of Strategy was downgraded. Gino Rosato and Jonathan Giacobazzi have already left, and racing director Laurent Mekies reportedly accepted a job at F1, but Vasseur blocked his exit.

Despite these challenges, Vasseur is urging his team to remain united and focused on the task at hand. Leclerc and teammate Carlos Sainz will be hoping for better luck at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend, and Ferrari fans will be crossing their fingers for a turnaround in fortunes.

Only time will tell if Vasseur can weather this storm and steer Ferrari back to the top of the F1 pecking order. For now, all eyes are on the Scuderia as they look to bounce back from a difficult start to the 2023 season.

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