It seems like a short time has passed since the diaspora of collective skepticism about the rumors of a possibility departure of Mattia Binotto. Yet, from the day the management Ferrari decided to make room for Frederic Vasseur to replace the former Lausanne team principal and it didn't take long. Of course, the Frenchman is only in his second season with the red team, but the speed and accuracy of certain internal maneuvers aimed at restoring life – and dignity – they foment a certain amazement on the little horse. Certain praise may seem to be the result of the enthusiasm caused by one very fresh and unexpected double, but what better opportunity to look at the past and crane our necks towards the future to evaluate Frederic Vasseur's work so far?
The apprenticeship period is over
When the French team principal arrived in Maranello there was one phrase that echoed in the air more than the others: "We'll have to wait before making judgements". This is how it was done. If during last season it was unorthodox to venture conclusions on Vasseur's work, in this year it is finally possible to draw the first verdicts. In 2023 the SF-23 was the daughter of Binotto management, and under the guidance of Frederic the team took third place in the constructors' classification and fifth - with Leclerc - in the drivers' classification. The Frenchman found himself in the hot seat of a tire-eating single-seater and fulfilled the task of not neglecting the championship by favoring the design of the hitherto successful SF-24. Not for everyone, Mercedes he teaches.
In this context, credit to Vasseur & Co. The Frenchman's entourage revolutionized the car, 90% new compared to its big sister, and if anything can be said so far it's that the new creation didn't start off badly at all. What brings optimism to the team and fans is not just good tire management – moreover confirmed on an unforgiving track like that of Melbourne -, the more so, having managed to create a more understandable and consequently improvable machine. And in one Formula 1 where the only thing that matters is the long term, this is pure gold for Maranello. The weaknesses of the SF-23 became the strengths of the SF-24, until now without a real Achilles' heel, and ready to put pressure on one Red Bull managerially in the balance.
Something is changed
The change in method by the team is clear. The feeling is that within sports management we are now opting more for concreteness. In what sense? In the previous cycle it was usual to favor stage success, or worse, day success. There are countless times in which the red car found itself in pole position only to be stripped on Sunday. With Vassuer this no longer seems to be the case. The team focused on creating a race-focused car, and despite this, he ended up with an SF-24 that can stand out even on Saturdays. In short, the exploit of the day no longer satisfies the men from Maranello, now prey to the rampant Vassuer mentality: that of those who are satisfied only when the main objective is achieved.
Of course, Fred also rejoices when Sainz lifts the first prize on the Australian podium, but he doesn't lose his balance and doesn't rest on his laurels. Improving yourself remains the main focus, and it's not just words that bear witness to this. Yes, because it is there to act as a counterbalance to a once "cautious" team a Ferrari that seems to want to dare more, especially in the war of developments. In fact, the new surface that will be tested on Japanese soil next week – preamble of a substantial package that will arrive when the circus will land in Europe -, in an attempt to cast some doubts on a very confident Red Bull.
The 12 Labors of Frederic
If making a team more compact than before after a radical change of management seems difficult, try to think what it means to do it while simultaneously integrating the staff by snatching engineers from the other top teams. The pony mechanism is visibly more well-established and in tune the way in which Vasseur is amalgamating technicians from across the Channel is commendable. Bring know-how from the outside it is increasingly difficult. Not so much for the declaration of humility that these actions demonstrate, but for the ever decreasing willingness of English minds to want to move to Italy. According to the data, Vassuer brought around 25 engineers to Maranello during the summer break last season, and plans to bring another 20 this year. In short, not a small operation.
In the Frenchman's notebook there are not only common names. According to rumours, there is no shortage of technical "senators" of the premier class. Loic Serra's coup from Mercedes was successful, and it seems that the hungry Vasseur is tempting the main architects of the RB20: above all, Waché and His Majesty Newey. In short, time will tell how everything will evolve, but if a pilot like Hamilton – who has never lacked flair – has decided to move to red, perhaps something big is really happening in Maranello.
A different climate
A final commendation goes to the management of the pilots. Vasseur has demonstrated, although the car is not yet up to par with its rival, that he knows how to manage the climate inside the garage. There is nothing at stake yet, and the clever Fred is keen not to create discontent between the two squires. Sainz, fresh from "exile", was not put aside or sacrificed, a sign of the fact that the good of the team, now that nothing else matters, is the number one priority of the leader in red.
We will know if the general management of the new team principal is up to par in the months to come. What is certain is that the start of the championship and all the resulting premises give rise to hope. Two third places and a victory are what seemed like a mirage at the beginning of last season, therefore, all that remains is to wait to see how Vasseur will capitalize on his fortunes and cross the very high ridges that this sport is used to achieving.
