[producer] I'm gonna ask you some questions.
[Vasseur] Okay, but I'm not in the police station. [chuckles]
[producer] This is our first chat together on the show. We're gonna start.
-Okay. -[producer] Yeah.
Fred Vasseur, team principal, Ferrari.
[dramatic music plays]
[Buxton] 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.
[crowd cheers]
[dramatic music continues]
[reporter in Italian] confirmed that they have appointed
Frédéric Vasseur as their new team principal.
[mechanic 1] Jesus Christ.
[mechanic 2] Fuck's sake.
[male fan 1] He's never done this job. What the heck did he come here to do?
[female fan] He doesn't even speak Italian.
Exactly. A team like Ferrari that is a family.
It's important.
[female fan] Exactly.
A top team like Ferrari can't afford to make those kinds of mistakes
in front of the whole world.
[male fan 2] This guy has to make it work.
[male fan 3] The team principal before was Binotto.
Let's hope that Vasseur manages to be a little better.
[Buxton in English] The role of Ferrari team principal is a poisoned chalice.
[clicks his tongue]
[Buxton] It's the most pressurized position in world sport.
Does he know what he's let himself in for?
I have to be serious.
[producer] No, please don't be serious. We wanted the real you.
[blows raspberry]
[laughs]
[engine revs]
[tense orchestral music plays]
[Buxton] 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.
[commentator 1] 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.
-[Padros] -[Leclerc] Fuck, fuck!
No!
[commentator 2] this season,
Charles Leclerc, when leading a race, won't go on to finish it.
[Buxton] And that's something that a new team boss
will need to change.
[Vasseur in French] 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.
[Williams in English] 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.
[producer in French] A bit higher. Like that. And look at me.
Like that. [chuckles]
[in English] You couldn't have a less Ferrari person running Ferrari.
And he's not even Italian.
[in Italian] Today, I need to speak Italian to the press.
-Yes. -[in French] So…
[in Italian] We can start.
[in English] In French…
[laughs]
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.
[in Italian] For the fans, it's important to say something in Italian.
Forza Ferrari…
-Okay. -This always.
[in English] At the end of each sentence, "Forza Ferrari."
[in Italian] Yes. Very good.
Perfect.
[Vasseur]
Forza Ferrari.
-[producer in English] How's your Italian? -I won't speak Italian today.
-[producer] Okay. -[laughs]
[tense music plays]
[Vasseur] I know the pressure from the press and the media is on me.
It's something I have to learn to work with.
[reporter] Fred, now, uh, I also want to hear how is it going so far?
So far, it's intense. [chuckles] 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.
[Vasseur] So far, it's not the best start for the season, for sure,
and, uh, we made mistakes.
[Leclerc] No, no, no, no. Come on.
Guys, no power.
[commentator 2]
[Leclerc] That's it.
[Sainz] We're gonna crash.
[Adami]
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.
[interviewer] Hello, Charles.
[Williams] 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.
[Sainz] My objective is to be world champion.
And your teammate is one more of those who you want to beat.
[Leclerc] 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.
[dramatic orchestral music plays]
[commentator 1] of the great theaters of motor racing,
the 2023 Italian Grand Prix.
[man] Welcome to the best country around the world.
Monza.
Bellissimo.
[operatic music plays]
[commentator 3] absolutely desperate
to see Ferrari back at the front of the field.
[operatic music continues]
[Buxton] Monza is the home of the
Fred knows what the expectations are,
and bare minimum is winning races.
Italy expects.
The
The board, crucially, expects.
[radio host in Italian] point of view,
Ferrari could do good things here in Monza.
[radio host continues speaking Italian]
Coming into Monza, Ferrari currently find themselves fourth,
and it's definitely not where the
We want to do a better job with better results.
[Vasseur in French] 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 and Ferrari in general.
It's another pressure for us.
[crowd shouts]
[fans shouting in Italian]
[Leclerc in English] It's been a very difficult season.
There's a lot of work to do in order to catch up.
[crowd shout]
And we've got a whole nation behind us.
[crowd shout]
[Sainz] 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
-[engine roars] -[door slams]
[crowd shout]
[Sainz]
[shouting continues]
[Sainz]
[shouting continues]
[Sainz]
[Reyes in Spanish] Holy mother, Carlos, what an experience.
They're all
I feel like crying, Carlos.
They all say hi to you with such emotion. It's incredible.
Are you okay? Relaxed?
Hmm.
[rock music plays]
[music fades]
[reporter in italian] Here he is, Frédéric Vasseur.
-Hi, Fred. -[Vasseur] Good evening.
[in English] We just want to know which kind of feelings did you have this morning
coming here at the track,
seeing all the red 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?
[Paul] Going back in, then we'll go up to the paddock.
-I thought Fred was just following me. -[all laugh]
[Vasseur] We are following each other.
[Buxton] 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… [chuckles] …so much better than Ferrari.
That's massive pressure on Fred.
[commentator 1] It's Qualifying at the home of Ferrari.
The grandstands are packed with fans expectant of a Ferrari pole.
[tense music plays]
[Padros]
[Leclerc] Copy that.
[exciting music plays]
[Leclerc] I cannot go faster.
[Padros] Understood. Mode push.
[exciting music continues]
[Padros]
[commentator 2]
But can he hang onto it?
[Lambiase]
You're quite close.
[Verstappen] All good.
[exciting music plays]
[commentator 2] crosses the line! He's on pole!
[in Italian] It's not over yet!
[exciting music plays]
[Sainz in English] I think I can go quicker.
[in Italian] Okay, one more lap.
[exciting music continues]
[in Spanish] Let's go, Carlos!
[exciting music continues]
[in Italian] Carlos, let's go!
[in Spanish] Let's go! Let's go!
[exciting music continues]
[Sainz in English] Tell me we have it. Tell me we have it.
-[Adami] -[Sainz in Spanish] Let's go!
[cheering]
[triumphant music plays]
[cheering]
-[Adami in English] -[Sainz] Okay, okay, let me enjoy a bit.
[triumphant music continues]
[Lambiase] pipped you by one hundredth.
That was a hell of a lap.
[Verstappen] They are quick over a lap, but let's wait and see tomorrow.
[commentator 2] can smile for today.
Tomorrow could well be a different story.
[Sainz] 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. [chuckles]
[tense music plays]
[commentator 3]
The Scuderia expect and the
[Lambiase]
-[Verstappen] Yep, radio check. -[Lambiase]
[tense music plays]
[commentator 1]
Mercedes have Russell, P4.
In front of him, Leclerc, P3.
Verstappen, P2.
And Carlos Sainz has pole position for Ferrari in Monza.
[Sainz] Red Bull are right behind me.
It's, uh, quite a lot of pressure.
I think it's gonna be a tight fight.
[Buxton] If you don't convert pole into the win,
it… it is the biggest failure.
[Leclerc] "Forza Ferrari! Forza ragazzi!"
These are sentences that motivate you.
It's our duty to give our best in order to win.
[tense music plays]
[Bird] joining the back of the grid now.
[tense music continues]
[Adami]
[commentary in Italian] we are on Carlos Sainz, in pole position…
He was unbelievable yesterday. He can make it, but…
[man 1] Max is going to be crushed today.
-[man 2] Come on. Let Ferrari fucking win. -[man 3] Stay calm.
[commentary] The traffic lights.
[fan]
[commentator 1 in English] We're racing in Monza!
[tense music plays]
[commentator 2] gets out of the chicane and into the lead.
[crowd cheers]
[in Italian] Yes, yes!
Come on, come on, come on!
[tense music continues]
[Adami in English]
Max, 0.9 behind.
[Lambiase]
Okay.
[Adami] That's good.
-[Sainz] It's quicker? -[Adami]
[Verstappen] He's already sliding a bit, so all good.
[Lambiase] Be sensible for the moment.
[commentator 4] is about to come under a lot of pressure
down the pit straight.
[Lambiase]
[commentator 2] gets alongside Carlos Sainz
and then runs out of room.
[Verstappen] That was naughty.
[exciting music plays]
[Lambiase] It's a matter of time.
[exciting music continues]
[commentator 2] we go once again.
Carlos Sainz leads.
[Lambiase] with the rear, Max, a lot.
[tense music plays]
[commentator 2]
[Sainz] Fuck!
[Lambiase] if you want to.
[tense music continues]
No, no, no, no, no!
[tense music continues]
[commentator 2] on the inside. Verstappen is ahead!
[groaning]
[Sainz] Fucking hell.
[commentator 1] his pole advantage.
Ferrari, now second and third.
[Padros] He is with DRS.
[Bird] You got him.
[in Italian]
[tense music plays]
[Bird in English] Keep pushing on. Push on.
[tense music continues]
[Leclerc] No, come on.
[commentator 2] another Ferrari to go.
[Sainz] He's trying to pass me around the outside of the car.
[Pérez] He's not leaving any room, man.
Come on!
We cannot race like this.
[Bird] You're gonna get him. See him off.
[dramatic music plays]
[Adami]
[Sainz] Tires are nearly finished.
[dramatic music continues]
[commentator 2]
As Carlos Sainz locks up, Sergio Pérez finally gets second place.
[Leclerc] Carlos is struggling a bit with the rears.
[Padros]
[Adami]
-[Padros] -What?
I have to make the corner.
[tense music builds]
[Sainz] I think we both feel like the corner.
[commentator 1] into the podium places
but locks up in doing so.
[Adami]
[exciting music plays]
[commentator 2] And somehow they avoid contact.
Sainz is back ahead of Charles Leclerc. That could have been nasty.
[exciting music continues]
[Padros]
No race to the end. No risk.
[exciting music continues]
[commentator 2] locks up,
goes straight on into the runoff area.
[shouting]
[commentator 2]
[tense music plays]
[commentator 3] 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.
[in Italian] 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.
[Williams in English] 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.
[Vasseur] It was not a good result at all for us.
Passion around the team, the expectation is always very high
and difficult to manage.
[man on radio in Italian] Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur,
a man about whom there'd been many doubts.
Should we trust him?
[fan 1] I would have kept Binotto.
Facts are facts. The reality is that we are losing.
[fan 2] We have hit rock bottom.
This is a bad year.
[fan 3] Jesus Christ.
[fan 4] We have to ask Vasseur why the car is slow, eh?
But above all, why is Verstappen going so strong?
[fan 5] His car is better.
[fan 4] Fucking hell.
-[Leclerc in English] All good? -So far. Before the lunch, all good.
-[Vasseur laughs] -Before they catch up.
[Vasseur chuckles]
[Vasseur in French] Come on. What did you do this morning?
[Vasseur in English] How is the life? Your life?
-[Sainz] My life in general? -Yeah.
Still single?
Anyway, changing subject…
[laughter]
[Sainz] How is the team?
I think, in terms of mood, it's, uh, much better.
[Vasseur in French] 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.
[in English] 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.
[Sainz] That's what I mean.
[Vasseur] 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.
[Sainz] Yeah.
[Vasseur] 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.
[Leclerc] Yep.
[Sainz] It will be a lot better.
We couldn't do it in Monza. Let's try and do it in Singapore, no?
[Vasseur] Let's push.
Let's fucking push.
[commentator 1] north of the equator.
Welcome to the Singapore Grand Prix.
Stand by for a hot one.
It feels like a sauna.
[fan 1] Carlos, you're so hot!
-[screaming] -[fan 2] Carlos!
It's fucking hot.
It's cold. [laughs]
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?
[Magnussen laughs]
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.
[commentator 3] of the most important qualifying sessions
of the season
as we set the grid for the Singapore Grand Prix
in very, very high humidity.
[tense music plays]
[Bird]
[tense music continues]
Let's make sure we are not near the back.
[Dudley]
[Lambiase]
[tense music continues]
[commentator 3] on his flying lap.
[Bird]
[Pérez] Copy.
[tense music continues]
[Bird]
[tense music continues]
[Pérez groans]
[Pérez] For fuck's sake.
-[Bird] -[Pérez] I went over the curb.
[Bird]
[Pérez] Fuck this shit!
[commentator 1] by one of the Red Bulls.
Will Verstappen fare better?
[Lambiase] Keep pushing.
Okay, Max, so that was excellent.
Continue to keep positive.
[Verstappen] All good.
[tense music plays]
[Lambiase]
[Verstappen] Locked up again in this shit corner.
Fuck's sake. Shit balance.
[tense music continues]
[Verstappen] The car is really bad. Fucking shocking.
Absolutely shocking experience.
[commentator 1] neither Red Bull will make the top ten.
Here comes Charles Leclerc.
This could be a rare opportunity for Ferrari.
[Padros]
[Leclerc] Yeah, copy that.
[tense music plays]
[Padros]
[commentator 2] make it a 21st pole in Formula 1?
[Padros]
[cheering]
[commentator 3] is right in the hunt here.
[Dudley]
[tense music plays]
[Dudley]
[tense music continues]
[commentator 2] now seize the initiative?
[Dudley]
[Russell] Copy.
[tense music continues]
[commentator 3] for Mercedes!
Russell beats Charles Leclerc.
[Adami]
Verstappen and Pérez are out.
[exciting music plays]
[Adami]
[exciting music continues]
[commentator 2]
-[Sainz] Tell me we have it. -[Adami]
-[Sainz] We have it? -[Adami] Yes!
[cheering]
[Adami] That was super close, yeah?
[commentator 2] had pole, couldn't convert it into a win.
Can Ferrari do it?
[Sainz] Let's do it tomorrow, guys.
Tomorrow.
[in Spanish] Come on.
[tense music plays]
[in English] We're out of position, but we're just gonna give it everything.
And, you know, try something different, you might get something different.
[commentator 1] Red Bull are P11 and P13.
But Russell's Mercedes is P2.
His teammate, Hamilton, not far behind.
[Vasseur] I need to get results.
And the most important today is for us to win.
[Sainz] It's about the mentality during the race.
Putting your head down, not overreacting.
That gives you the opportunity to fight for wins.
[commentator 3] off the line for Leclerc,
who's trying to take second place.
[Dudley]
[commentator 2] going into the first corner.
[exciting music plays]
[Padros]
Gap to Sainz in front, 1.2.
[Leclerc]
[exciting music continues]
[commentator 2] has Carlos Sainz in his sights.
[Adami]
[commentator 4] could do is start racing each other.
[Lambiase]
Hopefully, we can reel these cars in.
[commentator 1] made up a couple of places.
[Lambiase]
[commentator 1] crazy to try and catch the Ferraris.
He's moved up into eighth place.
[tense music plays]
[Lambiase] Close up the gap to Ocon.
[Padros] Target, three.
[Leclerc] Then I'm at risk.
[commentator 1] are asking Charles Leclerc
to slow down to help his teammate, Carlos Sainz.
[Padros]
We need three seconds.
At the moment, it's 1.0.
[tense music plays]
[Dudley]
to open up a three-second gap between themselves.
They'll start pushing you back.
[Russell] Is that what they've been told?
[Dudley] they're gonna sacrifice Leclerc.
[Padros]
Target, three.
Gap to Sainz, target three.
[Leclerc] 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.
[tense music plays]
[commentator 3] Ferrari backing the pack up.
[commentator 4] as possible, but not be overtaken.
[Padros]
[Leclerc] Yeah, copy that.
[Padros] Continue like this.
[Adami]
[Sainz] I could go forever at this pace.
[tense music continues]
[commentator 1] Carlos Sainz is flying ahead.
[Lambiase]
[commentator 2] need to try and do something different
to win this race.
-[Jego] -[Sargeant] Yeah, front gone.
[Jego] so watch out. Box, box. Slow in.
[Adami] with the front wing on the ground,
so watch for that, please.
[Sainz] Okay.
[commentator 4] A lot of debris on the track.
[Adami]
[commentator 1] Ferrari have most to lose in this,
but they are out in the pit lane for Sainz.
[commentator 4] the first jeopardy for Ferrari.
[commentator 2] is coming in.
They are double stacking at Ferrari.
[dramatic music plays]
[commentator 2]
[Leclerc] What happened there?
[Padros]
[dramatic music continues]
[Lambiase] apart from yourself, Checo, and Bottas.
[Adami] of Verstappen, coming through.
[commentator 3] Carlos Sainz out ahead of Verstappen?
[commentator 2] in sixth after losing four places.
That could be catastrophic.
Verstappen will be desperate to get past that Ferrari.
[Adami] Max behind you.
[Lambiase]
Safety car in pit lane.
[commentator 3]
[Adami]
[tense music plays]
[commentator 2] now under pressure from George Russell.
[Verstappen] Tires are so dead.
It's like driving on ice.
[Lambiase] Keep at it. Maybe one more lap.
We are looking at our options.
[tense music plays]
[Dudley]
[commentator 1] losing another place.
And the Red Bull's under big, big pressure.
[commentator 2] have made their pit stop.
That might have cost Red Bull dear in this race.
[tense music plays]
[Padros]
[tense music continues]
[Dudley]
[commentator 2] Leclerc'
and he'll probably be able to see quite nicely now
George Russell coming at him in the Mercedes.
[Padros]
And Russell with DRS.
[Dudley]
[tense music continues]
[commentator 1] Russell is ahead of Leclerc.
He has a chance to win this race.
[Adami] Russell is 5.7 behind.
-Laps? -[Dudley]
[Sainz] My tires are finished.
[commentator 1] Russell will overtake.
[Dudley]
[Adami]
[commentator 2] has just under three miles to go
to try and win out in Singapore.
[Dudley] I'll leave you to this.
[tense music plays]
[commentator 2] goes Russell!
[Russell] Fuck!
[Russell groans]
[Adami] Head down to the end.
[commentator 2] 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!
[commentator 2] wins the Singapore Grand Prix.
[upbeat music plays]
[Adami]
[Sainz in Spanish] Come on! Come on, Fred.
[Vasseur] You made a good job.
[Adami]
[Sainz] This is my first smooth operation in Ferrari.
-♪ Smooth operator -[Adami]
[Sainz] We won Singapore, my friend.
-Cry. I'm gonna cry. [laughs] -[Adami]
[Sainz] That was perfect, guys. Come on!
[Sainz laughs]
[Sainz] that I've had as a racing driver
because, this year, the chances of winning a race were incredibly slim.
[Adami]
-[Sainz] Say it again. -[Adami]
[Sainz] Again, again. P1, P1. [Adami chuckles]
[Sainz] the perfect plan, and we nailed it.
[Padros]
[Leclerc in Italian] Very well done, Carlos.
[Leclerc in English] 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.
[cheering]
I think Fred's really modified the mindset within the team for better.
[Leclerc] Well done, mate.
[Sainz] 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.
[commentator 3] Red Bull's run
of 15 consecutive grand prix wins.
[Vasseur in French] 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.
[Buxton in English] Fred's done what no other boss has been able to do this year.
Beat Red Bull.
He has that distinct and unique honor.
[cheering]
[man on radio in Italian] have thought it, guys? A Ferrari victory.
Sainz wins the Singapore race! Not only impeccable. Exceptional!
I have a lot of faith in Vasseur.
-[fan 1] He can bring back… -[fan 2] Ferrari.
-[fan 1] Where it deserves to be. -[fan 2] Exactly.
[fan 3] Ferrari is fighting.
That is, if Ferrari wins.
[fan 4] Everyone is happy.
-[fan 5] Always -[fan 6] Always.
I'm back.
Fuck.
[Horner] Oh shit.
It's game over.
[Verstappen] Get ready.
[Buxton] It's on Liam to prove he deserves the seat.
He's probably shitting himself.
[commentator 2] and Liam Lawson are going wheel to wheel.
[Tsunoda] Shit! Liam is so aggressive.
[Buxton] They now have three drivers for two seats.
[commentator 3] to the season finale.
[Buxton] There's a huge amount to play for.
[Wolff] We gotta beat the Ferraris.
[Vowles] It comes down to one last round.
[commentator 3] the concluding chapter.
Game on.
[closing theme music plays]
[music stops]