Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur hospitalised in Monaco, will miss qualifying for the Grand Prix
Frédéric Vasseur, the 58-year-old team principal of Scuderia Ferrari, has been admitted to a local medical facility in Monaco and will be absent from the circuit for Saturday's qualifying session.
Sudden absence from the paddock
Ferrari announced on Saturday morning that team principal Frédéric Vasseur would not be at the Monaco circuit for the day's running. The Frenchman, who has led the Maranello squad since 2023, underwent medical checks and was kept at a local health facility for observation. The team's statement was brief and gave no indication of the nature of the issue.
Fred Vasseur will not be present at the circuit today. Following some medical checks, Fred will remain under observation at a local medical facility. No further medical information will be provided.
The team concluded the message by wishing Vasseur a speedy recovery and saying they looked forward to seeing him back on track soon. Former F1 driver Jérôme d'Ambrosio is expected to step in for Vasseur in Monaco.
Strong start to the weekend
Vasseur had been on site on Thursday and Friday as Ferrari enjoyed a productive opening day of practice. Charles Leclerc topped the first free practice session, with teammate Lewis Hamilton setting the fastest time in the second session. The two drivers swapped the top two positions between sessions, while Max Verstappen of Red Bull finished third in FP2.
- FP1: Leclerc fastest, Hamilton second. Vasseur present on circuit.
- FP2: Hamilton fastest, Leclerc second, Verstappen third.
- Ferrari announces Vasseur hospitalised, will miss qualifying.
- Final practice session (FP3) scheduled.
- Qualifying session scheduled.
Championship context
The Monaco Grand Prix is the sixth round of the Formula 1 World Championship. Ferrari arrives at the event second in the constructors' standings with 147 points, trailing Mercedes, who have 219 points and have won all five races held so far this season. Neither Leclerc nor Hamilton has yet won a race in 2026.
Leclerc's home race
For Charles Leclerc, the weekend carries extra significance. The Monegasque driver recently renewed his contract with Ferrari and will race in his home country. The low-speed corners that characterise the Monte Carlo street circuit are seen as an opportunity for Hamilton and Leclerc to extract the maximum potential from the SF-26 and challenge Mercedes's perfect start to the season.
Qualifying is scheduled for 17:00 local time on Saturday, with a final practice session set for 13:30.
