what time is monaco grand prix qualifying became a sharper question for Ferrari on Saturday when Frederic Vasseur was ruled out of the circuit for medical reasons. The team principal will miss qualifying day at Monaco, leaving Ferrari to handle one of the most important sessions of the season without him.
Ferrari said Vasseur will not be at the circuit on Saturday after medical checks, and that he will remain under observation at a local medical facility. The team added that no further medical information will be provided and said it looks forward to seeing him back at the track soon.
Ferrari Handle Monaco Without Vasseur
The timing is awkward because Ferrari arrive with momentum. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finished first and second in both practice sessions on Friday, putting the team in position to fight near the front at a track where track position matters more than usual. Ferrari have not won a grand prix since October 2024, so Saturday carried obvious weight even before Vasseur’s absence.
Vasseur replaced former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto in January 2023, and his Friday comments pointed straight at the Monaco challenge. He said, “It was difficult to put a lap together for everybody and with 10% more cars (on the grid this year) it is more than 10% more difficult.”
Hamilton And Leclerc Set The Pace
He added, “Now that we have a convergence of understanding of the cars, tyres are becoming predominant again in performance, and with so many cars on track it is difficult to do a proper out-lap and I think it will be key for tomorrow, to be able to do a proper out-lap and do a clean lap.” That puts the focus on execution in qualifying, where even a small mistake can spoil a session that already leaves little room for recovery.
Ferrari’s Friday pace suggests the team has a real opening, but Saturday now asks more of the rest of the operation. With Vasseur away from the circuit and under observation, the garage will have to carry the plan through qualifying while the team also waits for his return. Ferrari’s public line is simple: no extra medical detail, and hope to have him back soon.
