Vasseur discussed ‘ruthless’ F1 remark with Giovinazzi

It was announced earlier this week that Giovinazzi would be leaving Alfa Romeo at the end of the current F1 season, with the team instead opting to sign Formula 2 title contender Guanyu Zhou to partner Valtteri Bottas for 2022. 

Following the confirmation of his exit, Giovinazzi took to social media to write F1 can be "ruthless when money rules" in what appeared to be a dig at Zhou’s significant financial backing. 

Giovinazzi’s comments did not impress Alfa Romeo team principal Frederic Vasseur, who confirmed on Friday that the matter had been discussed internally.

“You can imagine that I was not very happy,” Vasseur said at the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix. “But on the other hand I can understand that it was quite emotional for him. 

“We had a discussion. Now he knows perfectly that he has to stay focused on the next three events - that it will be important for him. 

“Motorsport is a small world if you want to come back in F1 he has to show that the motivation and pace are still there. 

“But now regarding the fact that motorsport is driven by sponsors, it’s not new, I think every single team from the grid, they have sponsors, they have finance and that we have to deal with it. 

“But we all have the same target at the end, to perform. It’s part of the job.” 

Ahead of the weekend, Giovinazzi vowed to remain professional in his final three F1 races with Alfa Romeo before making the switch to Formula E next season. 

"I think I have been professional in these last few years, and I will be professional these last few races," Giovinazzi said on Thursday. 

"So [I have] nothing to add, to be honest. With myself I'm happy, and I think I feel that I've been professional in these last few years, and will be in the last three races.