I'm gonna ask you some questions.
Okay, but I'm not in the police station.
This is our first chat together on the show. We're gonna start.
- Okay. - Yeah.
Fred Vasseur, team principal, Ferrari.
Ferrari is more than a brand. It's more than a car company.
For Italians, it's life.
There are two religions in Italy.
There's the Catholic Church, and there's Ferrari.
Ferrari have confirmed that they have appointed
Frédéric Vasseur as their new team principal.
Jesus Christ.
Fuck's sake.
He's never done this job. What the heck did he come here to do?
He doesn't even speak Italian.
Exactly. A team like Ferrari that is a family.
It's important.
Exactly.
A top team like Ferrari can't afford to make those kinds of mistakes
in front of the whole world.
This guy has to make it work.
The team principal before was Binotto.
Let's hope that Vasseur manages to be a little better.
The role of Ferrari team principal is a poisoned chalice.
It's the most pressurized position in world sport.
Does he know what he's let himself in for?
I have to be serious.
No, please don't be serious. We wanted the real you.
Ferrari is passion and history
and elegance and glamour,
Italian style,
and speed.
The only team that's taken part in every year
of the Formula 1 World Championship, all the way back to 1950.
They are the most successful team the sport has ever known.
Michael Schumacher takes his 85th Formula 1 win.
But they've not won a championship in a decade and a half.
Ferrari, in 2022,
made countless mistakes,
handed away so many advantages.
- Stay out, stay out. - Fuck, fuck!
No!
For the third time this season,
Charles Leclerc, when leading a race, won't go on to finish it.
And that's something that a new team boss
will need to change.
I joined Ferrari over the winter.
It all hit me like an enormous wave.
I didn't have time to anticipate it. It was just there.
Fred's quite a surprising choice for Ferrari.
Ferrari would normally choose a very serious individual.
Fred is a unique character.
I've known Fred for 25 years. He's straightforward, no bullshit.
But he can also be a bit cheeky.
A bit higher. Like that. And look at me.
Like that.
You couldn't have a less Ferrari person running Ferrari.
And he's not even Italian.
Today, I need to speak Italian to the press.
- Yes. - So...
We can start.
In French...
Fred Vasseur was team boss at Alfa Romeo for six seasons.
And it's a big step up
for Fred to move from a back-of-the-grid team
to Ferrari.
But he's not some wet-behind-the-ears greenhorn.
He has been involved in motorsport for over three decades.
Half the grid owe their careers to Fred Vasseur.
Ferrari wanted a new set of ideas,
a new direction, and Fred represents that something new.
For the fans, it's important to say something in Italian.
Forza Ferrari...
- Okay. - This always.
At the end of each sentence, "Forza Ferrari."
Yes. Very good.
Perfect.
Forza Ferrari.
- How's your Italian? - I won't speak Italian today.
Okay.
I know the pressure from the press and the media is on me.
It's something I have to learn to work with.
Fred, now, uh, I also want to hear how is it going so far?
So far, it's intense. As you can imagine.
But, uh, you can feel the responsibility for the team.
It's a great honor, but at the end of the day,
I think the most important is to be successful.
That, uh, we will have to... to deliver.
So far, it's not the best start for the season, for sure,
and, uh, we made mistakes.
No, no, no, no. Come on.
Guys, no power.
And there's contact!
That's it.
We're gonna crash.
Yeah, copy.
Definitely the worst start of... of a season ever.
Clearly, the objective of Ferrari is to win.
You need to get results if you want to survive.
Hello, Charles.
Coming in and taking over somebody else's team,
which Fred has effectively done...
That's been Mattia's team for quite a while.
That's not an easy situation,
because this is not his car.
Fred is inheriting the team, the car,
and two incredibly competitive drivers from his predecessor.
My objective is to be world champion.
And your teammate is one more of those who you want to beat.
I know that he's my teammate,
but I also know I want to beat him as much as he wants to beat me.
I just want to win and beat everyone.
It won't be, uh, an easy season for me.
Welcome to one of the great theaters of motor racing,
the 2023 Italian Grand Prix.
Welcome to the best country around the world.
Monza.
Bellissimo.
The passionate tifosi absolutely desperate
to see Ferrari back at the front of the field.
Monza is the home of the tifosi.
Fred knows what the expectations are,
and bare minimum is winning races.
Italy expects.
The tifosi expects.
The board, crucially, expects.
From a performance point of view,
Ferrari could do good things here in Monza.
Coming into Monza, Ferrari currently find themselves fourth,
and it's definitely not where the tifosi would expect them to be.
We want to do a better job with better results.
Now we're going to Monza at a difficult time
because Ferrari wants to win again, and it's been a while since we have.
We have a bit of hope because Monza is a fast race
and that suits our car better,
but we're still going into the unknown.
There will be a lot of expectations
from the tifosi, the sponsors, and Ferrari in general.
It's another pressure for us.
It's been a very difficult season.
There's a lot of work to do in order to catch up.
And we've got a whole nation behind us.
It would mean everything to win at Monza.
- Grazie. - Grazie.
As a Ferrari driver, it's the race that you wanna perform at your highest level
In front of the tifosi.
Grazie.
Holy mother, Carlos, what an experience.
They're all tifosi.
I feel like crying, Carlos.
They all say hi to you with such emotion. It's incredible.
Are you okay? Relaxed?
Hmm.
Here he is, Frédéric Vasseur.
- Hi, Fred. - Good evening.
We just want to know which kind of feelings did you have this morning
coming here at the track,
seeing all the red tifosi around cheering for you.
I wanted to avoid to have an extra pressure on the team,
but I think that we have to stay calm and focus on what we are doing,
not to overshoot any expectation or something like this.
There's always hope at Monza of a Ferrari victory,
but in 2023, Red Bull have won every single grand prix.
Where is the TV pen?
I don't know.
Paul, where are we going now?
Going back in, then we'll go up to the paddock.
I thought Fred was just following me.
We are following each other.
And so the question now is how do you beat Red Bull?
And you then have Mercedes, who are second in the Constructors Championship,
doing... ...so much better than Ferrari.
That's massive pressure on Fred.
It's Monza. It's Qualifying at the home of Ferrari.
The grandstands are packed with fans expectant of a Ferrari pole.
And we need to go. We need to go.
Copy that.
I cannot go faster.
Understood. Mode push.
Go.
Pole for Charles Leclerc!
But can he hang onto it?
Leclerc currently P1.
You're quite close.
All good.
Verstappen crosses the line! He's on pole!
It's not over yet!
I think I can go quicker.
Okay, one more lap.
Let's go, Carlos!
Carlos, let's go!
Let's go! Let's go!
Tell me we have it. Tell me we have it.
- Yes, P1. - Let's go!
- Enjoy your pole. - Okay, okay, let me enjoy a bit.
Wowzers. Sainz has pipped you by one hundredth.
That was a hell of a lap.
They are quick over a lap, but let's wait and see tomorrow.
Frédéric Vasseur can smile for today.
Tomorrow could well be a different story.
By far, the best pole position of my career.
Seeing everyone getting so excited and... and cheering my name was
the best feeling that you can get as a driver.
I just hope that I am able to fight for that win.
Time to do the job.
The banner is unfurled.
The Scuderia expect and the tifosi demand a performance.
Radio check.
- Yep, radio check. - Radio is good.
Pérez is P5.
Mercedes have Russell, P4.
In front of him, Leclerc, P3.
Verstappen, P2.
And Carlos Sainz has pole position for Ferrari in Monza.
Red Bull are right behind me.
It's, uh, quite a lot of pressure.
I think it's gonna be a tight fight.
If you don't convert pole into the win,
it... it is the biggest failure.
You can hear, "Forza Ferrari! Forza ragazzi!"
These are sentences that motivate you.
It's our duty to give our best in order to win.
Last car joining the back of the grid now.
All set and focus on the lights.
Meanwhile, we are on Carlos Sainz, in pole position...
He was unbelievable yesterday. He can make it, but...
Max is going to be crushed today.
- Come on. Let Ferrari fucking win. - Stay calm.
So here we are finally. The traffic lights.
Come on!
We're racing in Monza!
Carlos Sainz gets out of the chicane and into the lead.
Yes, yes!
Come on, come on, come on!
Max 0.5 behind.
Max, 0.9 behind.
Gap ahead, 1.1.
Okay.
We have a lot of top speed. That's good.
- It's quicker? - We are faster everywhere.
He's already sliding a bit, so all good.
Understood, Max. Be sensible for the moment.
Right now, Carlos Sainz is about to come under a lot of pressure
down the pit straight.
0.4 behind.
Max Verstappen gets alongside Carlos Sainz
and then runs out of room.
That was naughty.
Bide your time. It's a matter of time.
Down the main straight we go once again.
Carlos Sainz leads.
He's struggling with the rear, Max, a lot.
Carlos Sainz locks up.
Fuck!
Hit the overtake if you want to.
No, no, no, no, no!
Verstappen's on the inside. Verstappen is ahead!
Fucking hell.
Sainz has lost his pole advantage.
Ferrari, now second and third.
Gap to Pérez behind, 0.8. He is with DRS.
Yeah, no DRS for Leclerc. You got him.
Bloody hell, he's close.
Keep pushing on. Push on.
No, come on.
One Ferrari dispatched, another Ferrari to go.
He's trying to pass me around the outside of the car.
He's not leaving any room, man.
Come on!
We cannot race like this.
You're faster. You're gonna get him. See him off.
Checo, 0.1 behind with DRS.
Tires are nearly finished.
Pérez got his man!
As Carlos Sainz locks up, Sergio Pérez finally gets second place.
Carlos is struggling a bit with the rears.
No risk, no risk.
Charles behind with DRS.
- We need to be careful. - What?
I have to make the corner.
I think we both feel like the corner.
Charles Leclerc moves up into the podium places
but locks up in doing so.
Remember, no risk to both cars.
Sainz locks up! And somehow they avoid contact.
Sainz is back ahead of Charles Leclerc. That could have been nasty.
Be careful. This is the last lap.
No race to the end. No risk.
Oh, and Charles Leclerc locks up,
goes straight on into the runoff area.
Sainz is back ahead.
That could've been horrendous for Ferrari.
So easily could have gone into the back of his teammate.
It's a one-two finish for Red Bull.
And Carlos Sainz comes home by a tenth of a second
to beat his teammate, Charles Leclerc, and take that final podium place.
They're not a team anymore. They're not a cohesive team.
Today we risked not getting any points.
They could have gone out, both of them.
I can't tell you the pain a team principal will be feeling
watching your two drivers battle on the track.
There is so much risk involved.
They could've taken each other out.
That's when the TP needs to step in
and tell their drivers, "Dial it down a bit."
There's just too much at stake.
It was not a good result at all for us.
Passion around the team, the expectation is always very high
and difficult to manage.
Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur,
a man about whom there'd been many doubts.
Should we trust him?
I would have kept Binotto.
Facts are facts. The reality is that we are losing.
We have hit rock bottom.
This is a bad year.
Jesus Christ.
We have to ask Vasseur why the car is slow, eh?
But above all, why is Verstappen going so strong?
His car is better.
Fucking hell.
- All good? - So far. Before the lunch, all good.
Before they catch up.
Come on. What did you do this morning?
How is the life? Your life?
- My life in general? - Yeah.
Still single?
Anyway, changing subject...
How is the team?
I think, in terms of mood, it's, uh, much better.
We have to behave as a team in both the good and bad times.
And I think the team needs to stick together.
We often forget what "team" means, because it's very important.
We have to continue to push in this direction. We are not far away.
I think we have to put everything together
to try to improve the situation
to work on every single pillar of the performance.
We are all trying to do better, you know, than what we maybe--
Probably that we are trying to overshoot the railings.
That's what I mean.
In Monza,
the fight on track between you,
it's too much.
We can't race like this.
Yeah, maybe that was a little bit over-the-top.
Yeah.
As a team perspective, we need to work together to win.
Yeah.
We have to improve and to put everything together
from Friday to Sunday.
Yep.
It will be a lot better.
We couldn't do it in Monza. Let's try and do it in Singapore, no?
Let's push.
Let's fucking push.
We're 85 miles north of the equator.
Welcome to the Singapore Grand Prix.
Stand by for a hot one.
It feels like a sauna.
Carlos, you're so hot!
Carlos!
It's fucking hot.
It's cold.
The Singapore Grand Prix is brutal.
It is a high-speed street circuit.
A race held at night
in stifling heat.
These aren't see-through, are they?
Ferrari led at Monza. At home.
And didn't bring the win.
This year is substantially worse than last.
There's a lot to prove in Singapore.
We are all set for one of the most important qualifying sessions
of the season
as we set the grid for the Singapore Grand Prix
in very, very high humidity.
Okay, fire up.
Let's make sure we are not near the back.
So it will be straight out.
We need to get going, Max.
Sergio Pérez on his flying lap.
Okay, keep on pushing on. Push on.
Copy.
That looked good.
For fuck's sake.
- Okay, what happened? - I went over the curb.
That's got us P13, I'm afraid.
Fuck this shit!
A rare mistake by one of the Red Bulls.
Will Verstappen fare better?
Keep pushing.
Okay, Max, so that was excellent.
Continue to keep positive.
All good.
Everything okay?
Locked up again in this shit corner.
Fuck's sake. Shit balance.
The car is really bad. Fucking shocking.
Absolutely shocking experience.
At this rate, neither Red Bull will make the top ten.
Here comes Charles Leclerc.
This could be a rare opportunity for Ferrari.
Push first corner.
Yeah, copy that.
Overall, quite a good job.
Can Charles Leclerc make it a 21st pole in Formula 1?
You were fastest.
George Russell is right in the hunt here.
Okay. Nice work.
This looks solid.
Can Mercedes now seize the initiative?
Still doing a good job.
Copy.
It's a front row for Mercedes!
Russell beats Charles Leclerc.
Russell, currently P1.
Verstappen and Pérez are out.
Good job.
Sainz crosses the line!
- Tell me we have it. - We have it.
- We have it? - Yes!
That was super close, yeah?
Two weeks ago, Ferrari had pole, couldn't convert it into a win.
Can Ferrari do it?
Let's do it tomorrow, guys.
Tomorrow.
Come on.
We're out of position, but we're just gonna give it everything.
And, you know, try something different, you might get something different.
Good news for Ferrari. Red Bull are P11 and P13.
But Russell's Mercedes is P2.
His teammate, Hamilton, not far behind.
I need to get results.
And the most important today is for us to win.
It's about the mentality during the race.
Putting your head down, not overreacting.
That gives you the opportunity to fight for wins.
Good launch off the line for Leclerc,
who's trying to take second place.
Leclerc ahead.
Ferrari, one, two, going into the first corner.
Good job.
Gap to Sainz in front, 1.2.
Pace is really good.
And Charles Leclerc has Carlos Sainz in his sights.
Charles, 0.7 behind.
The worst thing Ferrari could do is start racing each other.
Leader is Sainz. Leclerc, P2.
Hopefully, we can reel these cars in.
Verstappen's made up a couple of places.
Gap to leader, 9.7.
Verstappen will go like crazy to try and catch the Ferraris.
He's moved up into eighth place.
Push this lap. Close up the gap to Ocon.
So gap to Sainz in front, 1.2. Target, three.
Then I'm at risk.
Ferrari are asking Charles Leclerc
to slow down to help his teammate, Carlos Sainz.
Target gap to Sainz.
We need three seconds.
At the moment, it's 1.0.
George, we expect the Ferraris
to open up a three-second gap between themselves.
They'll start pushing you back.
Is that what they've been told?
Yeah, it looks like they're gonna sacrifice Leclerc.
So gap to Sainz in front, 1.2.
Target, three.
Gap to Sainz, target three.
I'd really love to win this grand prix,
but I know that the race is not about me this time.
I just have to help Carlos get the win.
Yeah, copy. I'll try to slow down.
Ferrari backing the pack up.
He's gotta go as slow as possible, but not be overtaken.
So gap to Sainz in front, 3.1.
Yeah, copy that.
Really good job. Continue like this.
What you are doing is good.
I could go forever at this pace.
Carlos Sainz is flying ahead.
Sainz, gap 13.4.
Down at Red Bull, they need to try and do something different
to win this race.
- You okay? - Yeah, front gone.
You have the wing under the car, so watch out. Box, box. Slow in.
Sargeant is coming to the pits with the front wing on the ground,
so watch for that, please.
Okay.
Could be a safety car. A lot of debris on the track.
Box, Carlos. Box.
Ferrari have most to lose in this,
but they are out in the pit lane for Sainz.
That might be the first jeopardy for Ferrari.
And Charles Leclerc is coming in.
They are double stacking at Ferrari.
They've had to hold.
What happened there?
We had to hold you for traffic.
Max, everyone pitted apart from yourself, Checo, and Bottas.
Try to get clear of Verstappen, coming through.
Can they get Carlos Sainz out ahead of Verstappen?
Charles Leclerc down in sixth after losing four places.
That could be catastrophic.
Verstappen will be desperate to get past that Ferrari.
Safety car in this lap. Max behind you.
Max, keep the pressure on.
Safety car in pit lane.
Can Sainz hold on?
Verstappen, one second behind.
Max Verstappen now under pressure from George Russell.
Tires are so dead.
It's like driving on ice.
Understood, Max. Keep at it. Maybe one more lap.
We are looking at our options.
Nice job, mate.
Max Verstappen losing another place.
And the Red Bull's under big, big pressure.
The other cars around them have made their pit stop.
That might have cost Red Bull dear in this race.
Gap to Russell behind, 2.8.
Leclerc ahead, 2.3.
Leclerc' s looking in his mirrors,
and he'll probably be able to see quite nicely now
George Russell coming at him in the Mercedes.
Gap to Russell behind, 1.4.
And Russell with DRS.
Gap ahead, 1.1.
Russell is ahead of Leclerc.
He has a chance to win this race.
Russell passed Charles. Russell is 5.7 behind.
- Laps? - Two remaining.
My tires are finished.
At this pace, Russell will overtake.
You're doing really good.
Last lap.
Carlos Sainz has just under three miles to go
to try and win out in Singapore.
Overtake, final lap. I'll leave you to this.
Into the barrier goes Russell!
Fuck!
Russell in the wall at turn ten. Head down to the end.
Ferrari have controlled this race.
And Carlos Sainz, who started on pole
and didn't get the win in Monza, does it tonight in Singapore.
Come on!
Carlos Sainz wins the Singapore Grand Prix.
P1, baby.
Come on! Come on, Fred.
Congratulations, Carlos. You made a good job.
What a smart race. You nailed it.
This is my first smooth operation in Ferrari.
- ♪ Smooth operator ♪ - ♪ Smooth operator ♪
We won Singapore, my friend.
- Cry. I'm gonna cry. - What a legend.
That was perfect, guys. Come on!
This is the best feeling that I've had as a racing driver
because, this year, the chances of winning a race were incredibly slim.
In the pit lane, P1.
- Say it again. - In the pit lane, and P1.
Again, again. P1, P1.
But we put together the perfect plan, and we nailed it.
P4.
Very well done, Carlos.
It's frustrating. I want to win, but at the same time,
the best thing I can do as a driver is to try and help us be a better team.
I think Fred's really modified the mindset within the team for better.
Well done, mate.
Both Charles and I are more united than ever.
We've realized we can put some pressure on Red Bull
if we work together.
Fred managed to keep the team motivated after a difficult start,
and score much better results thanks to his leadership.
Ferrari have ended Red Bull's run
of 15 consecutive grand prix wins.
A victory is always like
a breath of fresh air.
It was a relief for me and for everyone downstairs.
It's the best thing we can have in a hard season.
For the team, it's a success because of the race, of course,
but it's also a success in terms of collaboration.
I was very proud of the result.
Fred's done what no other boss has been able to do this year.
Beat Red Bull.
He has that distinct and unique honor.
Who would have thought it, guys? A Ferrari victory.
Sainz wins the Singapore race! Not only impeccable. Exceptional!
I have a lot of faith in Vasseur.
- He can bring back... - Ferrari.
- Where it deserves to be. - Exactly.
Ferrari is fighting.
That is, if Ferrari wins.
Everyone is happy.
- Always "forza Ferrari." - Always.
I'm back.
Fuck.
Oh shit.
It's game over.
Get ready.
It's on Liam to prove he deserves the seat.
He's probably shitting himself.
Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson are going wheel to wheel.
Shit! Liam is so aggressive.
They now have three drivers for two seats.
Welcome to the season finale.
There's a huge amount to play for.
We gotta beat the Ferraris.
It comes down to one last round.
We have reached the concluding chapter.
Game on.