What happened: Fred Vasseur said blame and distraction would be a mistake after his role moved back into the spotlight this week. The Ferrari boss also welcomed public backing from senior leadership as fresh questions surfaced around his position.

Why it matters: The comments come at a delicate point for Ferrari, which has shown improved form under Formula 1's 2026 regulations while trying to hold that progress through the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend. Lewis Hamilton's backing of Vasseur has already made team stability part of the story around Ferrari's weekend.

What to watch: Practice and qualifying will show whether Ferrari can keep its recent pace with the off-track noise still hanging over the garage. Further comments from Vasseur and senior management are likely to stay under scrutiny through the weekend.