Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur will be absent from the Monaco Grand Prix circuit on Saturday after undergoing medical checks, despite the Italian team enjoying its strongest Formula 1 weekend of the season so far.
The Scuderia confirmed that Vasseur, 58, will remain under observation at a local medical facility and will not attend qualifying. Ferrari did not disclose further details regarding his condition but expressed confidence that he would return to trackside duties soon.
The news comes as Ferrari appears poised to challenge for its first grand prix victory since October 2024. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets in both Friday practice sessions, giving the team reason for optimism ahead of qualifying on the streets of Monte Carlo.
Before his absence, Vasseur spoke about the challenges teams face in Monaco’s crowded conditions. He noted that putting together a clean lap had become increasingly difficult, particularly with a larger grid and the growing importance of tyre management as performance differences between teams narrow.
According to Vasseur, executing a proper out-lap and finding clear track space will be crucial in determining the outcome of qualifying, traditionally the most important session of the Monaco weekend.
Away from the circuit, Ferrari remains involved in ongoing discussions over Formula 1’s future engine regulations. The team is currently opposing a proposal that would alter the 2027 power-unit rules by increasing the share of internal combustion power and reducing the reliance on electrical energy.
The proposed change would shift the balance from an almost equal split between combustion and electric power to a 60-40 ratio favouring the combustion engine through higher fuel flow rates.
Ferrari has resisted the amendment, preferring to keep the existing framework in place. The team believes the current regulations provide valuable opportunities for development should it begin the new engine era behind its rivals. The position would also limit potential gains for Mercedes, which is widely viewed as one of the benchmark manufacturers for the upcoming regulations.
Audi is also understood to be opposing the proposed changes, leaving negotiations between teams, the FIA and Formula 1’s commercial rights holders ongoing.