Charles Leclerc hails Ferrari F1 boss Fred Vasseur's "vision" after contract extended

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Charles Leclerc hailed Fred Vasseur's “vision” and cold-blooded approach after the Ferrari team principal was handed a new contract following speculation about his future.

Ferrari said the deal for Vasseur announced on Thursday was a sign of “trust in Fred’s leadership”, with the Italian team yet to win a Formula 1 race in 2025.

“In Formula 1 it takes time to build something, especially a successful team,” Leclerc said, arguing that the situation had been complicated by the “hype around the team” after Lewis Hamilton's arrival, and narrowly missing out on the constructors' championship last year.

The driver from Monaco added that Vasseur stood out for his sense of humor and his “cold blood” when Ferrari comes under pressure.

“I think what’s very difficult within Ferrari is the emotion is very much part of the daily job," Leclerc said. "Fred really knows how to leave his emotions aside and have a clear vision of where we are at, no matter how much noise there is around the team.”

Ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Ferrari said the new deal was a “multiple-year contract,” without giving further details. Leclerc's teammate Hamilton gave Vasseur his backing last month after reports in the Italian media suggested his job could be in question.

Ferrari last won a race in October and, while it's second in the constructors' championship, neither Hamilton nor Leclerc has consistently been able to challenge the leading McLaren drivers this year.

“Today we want to recognize what has been built and commit to what still needs to be achieved,” Ferrari chief executive Benedetto Vigna said in a statement.

“It reflects our trust in Fred’s leadership — a trust rooted in shared ambition, mutual expectations and clear responsibility. We move forward with determination and focus, united in our pursuit of the level of performance Ferrari has to aim for.”

Vasseur joined Ferrari as team principal at the start of 2023. He was Hamilton's team boss in junior series in the mid-2000s, and played a role in convincing the seven-time champion to leave Mercedes for Ferrari for 2025 in a move which shook up F1.

Vasseur also previously worked with Renault and Sauber in F1.

Hamilton, who hasn’t finished on the podium in a Grand Prix race since joining the Italian team, has been holding meetings with senior executives to push for improvements and a voice in developing the team's car for 2026. Next year brings sweeping changes to the regulations.

“I’m grateful for the trust Ferrari continues to place in me. This renewal is not just a confirmation — it’s a challenge to keep progressing, to stay focused and to deliver,” Vasseur said.

“Over the past 30 months, we’ve laid strong foundations, and now we must build on them with consistency and determination. We know what’s expected, and we’re all fully committed to meeting those expectations and taking the next step forward together.”

Leclerc played down expectations for his own performance this weekend. Despite the twisty Hungaroring sometimes being likened to Monaco without walls, he said it's often been “by far the worst track of the season” for him.

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Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur walks through the paddock at the Hungaroring racetrack, in Mogyoród, Hungary, Thursday, July 31, 2025, ahead of the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur walks through the paddock at the Hungaroring racetrack, in Mogyoród, Hungary, Thursday, July 31, 2025, ahead of the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur outside the team garage prior to the first practice session ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack in Spa, Belgium, Friday, July 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco smiles in the paddock at the Hungaroring racetrack, in Mogyoród, Hungary, Thursday, July 31, 2025, ahead of the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of the United Kingdom walks through the paddock at the Hungaroring racetrack, in Mogyoród, Hungary, Thursday, July 31, 2025, ahead of the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur walks through the paddock at the Hungaroring racetrack, in Mogyoród, Hungary, Thursday, July 31, 2025, ahead of the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur walks through the paddock at the Hungaroring racetrack, in Mogyoród, Hungary, Thursday, July 31, 2025, ahead of the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur outside the team garage prior to the first practice session ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack in Spa, Belgium, Friday, July 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

David Linde, the former chairman of Universal Pictures and CEO of Participant Media, has been named CEO of the Sundance Institute. The nonprofit organization said Thursday that Linde will assume the role on Feb. 17, after this year’s festival concludes.

“I am honored to join Sundance Institute as CEO to steward an organization that is essential to independent artists, the broader creative community, and culture at large,” Linde said in a statement.

His role will include overseeing the Sundance Film Festival’s transition to Boulder, Colorado, in 2027, as well as managing the year-round Sundance Institute programs, including artist labs, grants and fellowships.

A Hollywood veteran, Linde has worked across television and film for decades, cofounding Focus Features and overseeing numerous Oscar nominees and winners in his various roles. During Linde’s time at Participant, which shuttered in 2024, the company produced two best picture winners: “Spotlight” and “Green Book.” He also produced “Arrival.”

Sundance has been operating under an interim CEO, Amanda Kelso, since early 2024 when Joana Vicente stepped down. Vicente had replaced Keri Putnam in 2021. The Institute’s most high-profile event, the annual Sundance Film Festival, is gearing up for its last edition in Park City, Utah which will kick off next week.

Ebs Burnough, board chair of the Sundance Institute, said in a statement that, “David brings a rare combination of industry fluency, social cause management, and deep commitment to artists, positioning the organization to build on our legacy while advancing our mission for the future.”

FILE - David Linde appears at the American Cinematheque Awards in Los Angeles on Nov. 18, 2021. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)