Ferrari extend Vasseur's contract as F1 team boss

BUDAPEST :Ferrari announced a multi-year contract extension with Formula One team boss Fred Vasseur on Thursday, ending immediate speculation about the Frenchman's future at the helm.

Vasseur, 57, has been in the post since the beginning of 2023 and was key to persuading seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton to join from Mercedes this season.

His tenure was questioned earlier in the year with reports suggesting Ferrari had sounded out Christian Horner, the Briton who was sacked by Red Bull this month and has yet to comment on what he will do next.

"Today we want to recognise what has been built and commit to what still needs to be achieved," said Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna in a statement released ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

"It reflects our trust in Fred's leadership, a trust rooted in shared ambition, mutual expectations and clear responsibility."

Ferrari are second in the championship after 13 of the season's 24 races but a massive 268 points adrift of dominant champions McLaren.

Hamilton, the most successful driver in the history of the sport with 105 wins, has yet to stand on the podium for his new employers although he did win a Saturday sprint in Shanghai in March.

Former Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, now with Williams, told reporters at the Hungaroring that the team clearly wanted to put a lid on speculation that has unsettled staff at the Maranello factory.

"From the outside it just looks like they want to cancel the noise," said the Spaniard.

"Always in Ferrari there's so much noise and you almost need to announce that you're extending or staying for people not to create a rumour. I'm happy for Fred because I'm sure he will keep doing a good job."

"STRONG FOUNDATIONS"

Ferrari highlighted Vasseur's