Ferrari's turbulent start to the 2026 Formula 1 season is being matched by mounting unrest behind the scenes at Maranello, with fresh reports pointing to serious friction around team principal Fréd Vasseur, his relationship with CEO Benedetto Vigna, and the way information is flowing through the racing department. As results have slipped, the mood inside the team is said to have soured, with tensions increasingly spilling into public view.

Among the more striking claims is that a section of the team has taken to calling Vasseur "Napoleon" behind his back, a nickname reportedly reflecting frustration with what some see as an arrogant and dismissive management style. Paddock sources have gone further, describing his approach at times as highly autocratic, adding to the sense of unease surrounding his leadership.

The reports follow earlier speculation that Lewis Hamilton had pushed for changes among Ferrari's trackside staff, with suggestions that Vasseur shared some of the seven-time world champion's frustrations. Hamilton has denied the claim outright, but the episode has only intensified scrutiny of how the team is being run.

Perhaps most damaging is the reported breakdown in communication between Vasseur and Vigna. The two men come from starkly different worlds — Vasseur built his reputation climbing through motorsport team management, while Vigna joined Ferrari from outside racing entirely. Their disconnect is said to stem largely from Vasseur's limited physical presence at the factory, with reports suggesting he lacks a consistent day-to-day footprint at Maranello, leaving him without a deep grasp of the operation's internal workings. The recent appointment of Jérôme d'Ambrosio as deputy team principal is being viewed through that lens, though his exact remit remains unclear.

That distance is reportedly being felt across the Racing Division, where staff in various departments feel cut off from senior leadership. Sources close to the team say even basic gestures, like greeting employees in person, have become rare, with messages from top figures now largely confined to email — a practice drawing criticism amid poor on-track results.

Compounding matters, Ferrari appears to have no obvious succession plan. Antonello Coletta, head of the Hypercar programme, has reportedly shown no interest in the F1 role, while a rumoured return for McLaren's Andrea Stella has already been rejected by him. That leaves Vasseur under mounting pressure, navigating internal doubts and denied claims about Hamilton's influence, as questions grow over whether he still holds the authority to steer Ferrari out of one of its most difficult stretches in years.

Source: Scuderia Ferrari Fans

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