When it comes to the relationship between Formula 1 team bosses, the spectrum ranges from enmity to peaceful coexistence to friendship. While the relationship between Christian Horner and Toto Wolff is at one end of the scale, that between Wolff and Fred Vasseur is at the other end.
New Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur has a good relationship with his Mercedes colleague. The two even lived together briefly when Vasseur moved to the UK as Renault team boss in 2016. Since then they have been close.
However, ever since Vasseur took the helm of one of Mercedes’ biggest rivals in the premier class, there has been much speculation as to the extent to which the two will be able to remain friends should they face each other for victory or even the world title in the future.
It is not for nothing that the “piranha club” is often used to describe the deep rivalry between the team bosses in Formula 1. But Vasseur sees the situation calmly. “We don’t talk to each other anymore,” he jokes, when asked about the future relationship between him and Wolff.
Vasseur sees no disadvantage
In fact, he sees no disadvantage in their good relationship. “I think globally it’s an advantage, but we have to be smart,” said Vasseur. “I know we will fight on the track, also with the stewards, at the FIA, and we will fight for the Concorde Agreement. That’s life.”
“But at the end of the day, I think it’s an advantage for the overall picture to have very good cooperation between the teams,” stresses the Ferrari team boss.
“So if you look at it from that side and the common interest of the teams or Formula 1 is to have discussions and find an agreement, I think it will be a big advantage to have a good relationship.”
Vasseur stresses good relationship with other team bosses
At the same time, Vasseur believes that the closeness to Wolff is sometimes exaggerated, as he also gets along well with a number of other team bosses: “I also have a good relationship with some of my colleagues. I think that’s always good.”
The Frenchman does not name names in this context, but confirms in relation to himself and Wolff: “Then we have to be clever enough to completely separate (this friendship; editor’s note) and you can be sure that I’ll fight like hell with Toto on and off track!”