Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur to Miss Monaco Qualifying After Medical Checks

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur will miss Monaco Grand Prix qualifying after being taken to a local medical facility for observation following medical checks, the team confirmed on Saturday morning.

Ferrari said Vasseur would not be present at the circuit for the day’s running and that no further medical information would be released. The team added that it wished him a speedy recovery and looked forward to his return to the track soon.

The absence comes after Ferrari enjoyed a strong start to the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, with Charles Leclerc topping first practice on Friday ahead of Lewis Hamilton, before the order was reversed in the second session. Ferrari had gone into the event among the pre-weekend favorites after showing encouraging pace in practice.

Despite the promising start, Vasseur urged caution when assessing Ferrari’s performance. Speaking after Friday’s sessions, he said Monaco remains a long weekend and that the key challenge is not just outright speed but anticipating how the track changes from session to session. He noted that grip levels evolve quickly in Monaco and that teams must stay one step ahead in their setup and strategy choices.

Vasseur also emphasized that the real picture would only become clear once qualifying was completed and the race got underway. He said the gap between Friday practice and Saturday qualifying, then Sunday’s race, can still bring major changes in competitiveness. According to Vasseur, Monaco is especially demanding because the circuit evolves constantly and requires drivers and engineers to adapt as conditions improve.

Ferrari’s strong showing in practice suggests the team may be in the fight at the front, but Vasseur’s comments reflected a measured approach rather than any suggestion that the advantage was secure. The narrow streets of Monaco, where track position and timing are crucial, often produce unexpected shifts in performance once cars run in qualifying trim.

With qualifying looming, Ferrari will now continue without its team principal at the circuit, while Vasseur remains under medical observation. The team has not disclosed the nature of the checks or any timeline for his return.

Ferrari will be hoping its early pace translates into a strong qualifying result, as Monaco is widely regarded as one of the most important tracks on the Formula 1 calendar for starting position. For now, the focus is on Vasseur’s recovery and on how Ferrari performs in one of the season’s most critical qualifying sessions.