Jun.7 (GMM) Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur missed Monaco qualifying after being admitted to hospital for medical checks.
The Italian team confirmed shortly before qualifying that the 58-year-old Frenchman would not be present at the circuit, saying he was undergoing local examinations and would remain under observation.
Ferrari did not disclose the nature of the issue, adding only that it hoped Vasseur would return to the track “soon”.
His deputy, former Formula 1 driver Jerome d’Ambrosio, assumed responsibility for the team in Monaco.
“Without going into details, he’s doing well,” d’Ambrosio told Sky Italia.
“He had to undergo some tests today, but he’s doing well.”
Charles Leclerc also sought to reassure Ferrari fans after qualifying.
“Fred was quite involved today, even though he wasn’t at the track,” the Monegasque said. “We miss him here, but he was still supporting us.”
While there is no official word on the cause of Vasseur’s hospital visit, Germany’s Bild noted that he has suffered from chronic back and disc problems for years.
According to the newspaper, the pain has sometimes been so severe during long flights that Vasseur was unable to remain seated.
Whether those issues are connected to his Monaco absence remains unclear.
Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport also noted that Vasseur experienced back problems in 2024 and subsequently underwent surgery.
The timing of his absence coincided with a disappointing qualifying session for Ferrari.
Lewis Hamilton secured P3, but Leclerc struggled and later voiced frustration with ongoing braking issues. “Very disappointed,” he said.
“I’m not surprised, because for the last two weekends I haven’t felt comfortable with the car, and specifically with the brakes.
“It’s a problem we know about and hopefully we can fix it for Barcelona.”
The setback comes only days after Ferrari announced a new contract extension for Leclerc.
Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore believes both sides made the right decision.
“That was his decision,” Briatore told Corriere della Sera.
“By now he identifies completely with Ferrari, so he was right to renew and Ferrari were right to keep him.
“He’s a great driver, fast and intelligent.”