Wolff had questioned Ferrari’s ability to continue bringing major updates during the early part of the season, with the Scuderia having introduced several packages as it attempts to close Mercedes’ advantage at the front.
Vasseur responded strongly during the team principal press conference on Friday at Silverstone, saying it was ironic that Ferrari’s development was being viewed differently to its rivals.
“When Red Bull is developing, or when Mercedes is developing, they are a genius – when we are developing, we are cheating,” Vasseur said.
“I think you have to calm down with this. We didn’t bring more parts than Red Bull or another one – I don’t know if it was a joke!”
Asked whether he believed Wolff was effectively accusing Ferrari of breaching the cost cap, Vasseur said the implication was clear.
“If you think that we overshoot the cost cap, for me it’s going into this direction.”
Wolff responded to Vasseur’s comments after qualifying at the British Grand Prix, insisting his remarks had been misunderstood and were not intended as an accusation.
“Fred is very emotional. If he would have read my comments rather than just a headline, he would have seen what I said was an observation and would be interesting to see how much updates one can pull out at the end of the season,” Wolff told Sky Sports F1.
“But you know it’s just the emotionality that we all have. And being passionate of our own team’s success. And I’m fine with that.”
Asked directly whether Vasseur had taken his comments out of context, Wolff said the Ferrari boss had misread his point.
“Yeah. It was misunderstood,” Wolff added.
“If I say things that I want to be understood, I will do so too, but in that case I didn’t mean it really.”
Ferrari has been one of the most active teams in the development race during the opening phase of the 2026 season, having brought updates across several weekends as it tries to cut into Mercedes’ early advantage.
The Scuderia sits second in the constructors’ championship after eight races, with Lewis Hamilton’s victory in Barcelona the only grand prix this year not won by Mercedes.
Vasseur defended Ferrari’s approach on Friday, arguing the team had simply chosen to bring performance to the car early rather than wait until later in the season.
“We are all in the same boat that if we can bring something at the beginning, we do it,” Vasseur said.
“It’s better to have a couple of tenths for five races than just a couple of tenths for the last two.
“But sometimes it’s difficult to find performance, sometimes you can have the feeling that we are bringing a big upgrade, but it is just the modification of some parts and nothing else.”
Mercedes and Ferrari will continue their fight on track at Silverstone, with Kimi Antonelli on pole for the British Grand Prix ahead of Charles Leclerc and Hamilton.
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