Ferrari's team boss has expressed uncertainty about whether Adrian Newey would be a good "fit" for Maranello.
Until not long ago, Ferrari was viewed as the probable next team for Newey, the esteemed Red Bull technical expert now looking elsewhere.
Recent developments indicate that Newey, aged 65, has either dismissed the idea of joining Ferrari or even upset the iconic Italian team with his demands for extensive control over technical aspects.
Currently, Aston Martin is seen as the frontrunner to be his next Formula 1 team, though McLaren might still be in contention.
On being questioned about Ferrari's ongoing interest in Newey, team chief Vasseur responded: "It's the same as if I was asked if I was interested in Max Verstappen. I would like to see the team boss in the paddock who would answer no," he conveyed to Auto Motor und Sport.
"It would be a serious mistake on my part if I didn't think about Newey. But the question is different - does he fit into the team? And what does he bring to the team for the future? That's not a sure thing," the Frenchman asserts.
"Sometimes, one plus one doesn't equal two, but two and a half. Newey is certainly an issue, just as he is an issue for everyone," Vasseur added.
Meanwhile, Ferrari is more focused on resolving issues from its latest upgrade, introduced in Barcelona, which brought back the problem of 'porpoising' at high speeds.
The team conducted comparative tests with old and new components at Silverstone recently, with Vasseur reporting: "We now understand our problem better than we did before.
"Because the bouncing is not reproducible in the wind tunnel, it is difficult to find out what causes it. That is why we compared two different floor specifications in Silverstone, giving us until Budapest to find a solution."
This weekend's Hungarian GP will see a modified floor design being implemented.
However, Vasseur noted that the significance of car upgrades is gradually reducing in 2024. "Definitely," he stated.
"There are only small steps to be taken now. Using the tyres correctly has five times the impact of an upgrade. But you still have to develop," Vasseur added, "otherwise you'll simply fall behind."
