We relate the operad $${\textit{FMan}}$$ FMan controlling the algebraic structure on the tangent sheaf of an F-manifold (weak Frobenius manifold) defined by Hertling and Manin to the operad $${\textit{PreLie}}$$ PreLie of pre-Lie algebras: for the filtration of $${\textit{PreLie}}$$ PreLie by powers of the ideal generated by the Lie bracket, the associated graded object is  $${\textit{FMan}}$$ FMan .