Frédéric Vasseur
{{Short description|French motorsport executive (born 1968)}}
{{BLP more citations needed|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Frédéric Vasseur
| image = MJXKPW 240117 SF F1 FVasseur Red PR AN 076161-1920x0 YRHUGH (close-up).jpg
| caption = Vasseur in 2024
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|5|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = Draveil, Île-de-France, France
| alma_mater = ESTACA
| occupation = {{hlist|
| Motorsport executive
| businessman
| engineer
}}
| employer = {{plainlist|
- Formula Three
- ASM (1996–2004)
- GP2/FIA Formula 2
- ART (2005–{{F2|2017}})
- Formula One
- Renault ({{F1|2016}})
- Sauber ({{F1|2017}}–{{F1|2018}})
- Alfa Romeo ({{F1|2019}}–{{F1|2022}})
- Ferrari ({{F1|2023}}–present)
}}
| title = Team Principal
| spouse = {{marriage|Marie Laure|1999}}
| children = 4
}}
Frédéric Jean Henri Vasseur (born 28 May 1968) is a French motorsport executive, businessman and engineer. Since 2023, Vasseur has served as team principal of Ferrari in Formula One; he previously served as team prinicipal of Renault, Sauber and Alfa Romeo.
Born and raised in Paris, Vasseur studied aeronautical engineering at ESTACA. He founded ASM in 1996, winning several national and continental Formula Three championships. In 2004, Vasseur partnered with Nicolas Todt to co-found ART Grand Prix, winning the GP2 Series back-to-back with Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Until 2017—under the leadership of Vasseur—ART won four GP2 teams' championships, amongst five consecutive titles in the Formula 3 Euro Series from 2005 to 2009. Vasseur joined Renault in {{F1|2016}} as their first team principal upon their return to Formula One, resigning at the end of the season and joining Sauber for {{F1|2017}}. After six seasons at Sauber—later known as Alfa Romeo—Vasseur moved to Ferrari in {{F1|2023}}, leading the team to victory at {{numbertoword|{{sum|{{f1cstat|FER|wins}}|-242}}}} Grands Prix, as of the {{LatestF1GP}}.
Outside of team management, Vasseur founded Spark Racing Technology in 2013, becoming the official chassis constructor for Formula E in its inaugural season, and since producing the SRT_01E (2014), SRT05e (2018), Gen3 (2022) and Gen3 Evo (2024). Spark also hold the license for Extreme E, producing the Odyssey 21, which has been in use since 2021.
Early and personal life
Frédéric Jean Henri Vasseur was born on 28 May 1968 in Draveil, Île-de-France, France.{{Cite web |title=Frédéric Jean Henri Vasseur, Noisy-sur-École, France |url=https://www.northdata.com/Vasseur,%20Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric%20Jean%20Henri,%20Noisy-sur-%C3%89cole/9t8 |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.northdata.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Scuderia Ferrari Team: Frédéric Vasseur - Ferrari.com |url=https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/formula1/frederic-vasseur |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=www.ferrari.com |language=en}} He married his wife Marie Laure on 31 July 1999 and together they have 4 sons. Airy, Salomy (26 February 2024). [https://playersbio.com/fred-vasseur-wife-marie-laure-ferrari-principal-married-life-kids/ Fred Vasseur Wife Marie Laure: Ferrari Principal Married Life & Kids] Players Bio. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
Career
=Education and junior formulae (1996–2015)=
Vasseur graduated from ESTACA where he studied aeronautics and engineering. He founded the ASM team in 1996 which, in partnership with Renault, won the French Formula 3 championship with David Saelens in 1998, and the Formula 3 Euroseries championships in partnership with Mercedes-Benz with Jamie Green, Lewis Hamilton, Paul di Resta and Romain Grosjean, from 2004 to 2007.
File:Todt Nicolas and Vasseur Frederic.JPG co-founders Nicolas Todt and Vasseur in 2009.]]
In 2004, he joined Nicolas Todt to form the ART Grand Prix team that won the GP2 Series championship with Nico Rosberg in 2005 and Lewis Hamilton in 2006.
At the end of 2013, he obtained the contract from the FIA to construct the 40 chassis for the inaugural Formula E series for his newly formed venture Spark Racing Technology; the company has continued to keep this contract.{{cite magazine|last1=Golson|first1=Jordan|title=What You Need to Know Before the First Ever Formula E Race This Weekend|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/09/formula-e-electric-racing/|magazine=Wired|date=9 September 2014|access-date=19 February 2017}}{{cite web|last1=O'Kane|first1=Sean|title=New concept images show just how crazy Formula E's race cars will look next year|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/13/14598972/formula-e-season-5-new-car-concept-images|website=The Verge|date= 13 February 2017|access-date=19 February 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Biesbrouck|first1=Tim|title=Spark Racing Technology releases first concept images of new Formula E car|url=http://www.electricautosport.com/2017/02/spark-releases-concept-images-new-formula-e-car/|website=Electric Autosport|date= 13 February 2017|access-date=19 February 2017}}
=Formula One (2016–present)=
==Renault (2016)==
Vasseur joined Renault Sport as team principal of the newly formed Renault Sport Formula One Team during the 2016 Formula One season. He resigned at the end of the 2016 season after disagreements with the managing director, Cyril Abiteboul, on how the team should be run.{{cite web|url=https://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2017/01/frederic-vasseur-leaves-renault-by-mutual-consent-ahead-of-2017-f1-season/|title=Analysis: Blow for Renault as Vasseur leaves "by mutual consent" ahead of 2017 F1 season|website=James Allen on F1|date=11 January 2017|access-date=13 July 2017|archive-date=21 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121222409/https://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2017/01/frederic-vasseur-leaves-renault-by-mutual-consent-ahead-of-2017-f1-season/|url-status=dead}} Subsequently, he was hired by Sauber in July 2017.
==Sauber / Alfa Romeo (2017–2022)==
On 12 July 2017, Sauber announced that they had signed up Vasseur as managing director and CEO of Sauber Motorsport as well as team principal of the Sauber F1 Team.{{cite web |url=https://www.sauberf1team.com/news/the-sauber-f1-team-announces-frederic-vasseur-as-the-new-team-principal |title=The Sauber F1 Team announces Frédéric Vasseur as the new Team Principal |date=12 July 2017 |website=www.sauberf1team.com |access-date=13 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110122220/https://www.sauberf1team.com/news/the-sauber-f1-team-announces-frederic-vasseur-as-the-new-team-principal |archive-date=10 November 2017 |url-status=dead }}
==Ferrari (2023–present)==
In December 2022, Vasseur replaced Mattia Binotto as team principal of Ferrari for the {{F1|2023}} season; he became the fourth non-Italian and the second French person to lead the team.{{Cite news|url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferrari-announces-vasseur-as-new-formula-1-boss/10410795/|title=Ferrari Announces Vasseur as New Formula 1 Boss|date=13 December 2022|access-date=16 September 2024|work=Motorsport.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223104540/https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferrari-announces-vasseur-as-new-formula-1-boss/10410795/|archive-date=23 December 2022|url-status=live|last=Smith|first=Luke}} Vasseur achieved his first victory as team principal when Carlos Sainz Jr. won the {{F1GP|2023|Singapore}},{{cite news |title=Vasseur reflects on 'emotional' first win as Ferrari boss |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/im-more-than-proud-frederic-vasseur-reflects-on-emotional-first-win-as.2KACoMuOPOMZLRRbtyEaZN |access-date=29 April 2024 |work=Formula1.com |date=20 September 2023 |language=en}} the only non-Red Bull win of the season. He achieved his first 1–2 finish at the 2024 Australian Grand Prix.{{cite news |title=Vasseur warns Ferrari not to 'get carried away' |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/vasseur-warns-ferrari-not-to-get-carried-away-after-sensational-australia-1.ih86bw9rF0OF3m1pt0GUr |access-date=29 April 2024 |work=Formula1.com |date=28 March 2024 |language=en}} Throughout {{F1|2024}}, Vasseur and Ferrari achieved several further wins—in Monaco, Italy, the United States and Mexico City—with the team finishing runner-up to McLaren in the World Constructors' Championship.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Renault F1}}
{{Sauber}}
{{Alfa Romeo F1}}
{{Scuderia Ferrari}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vasseur, Frédéric}}
Category:Formula One team principals
Category:Motorsport team owners
Category:French motorsport people
Category:French automotive engineers