One of the hottest topics at Ferrari is certainly that of the hierarchies between the drivers in the event of a world fight. Mattia binotto he paid the consequences. Episodes like Monaco, Silverstone, although they are not comparable to the leap in quality that has definitively distanced the Red Bull from the Reds, they questioned the strategic and decision-making skills of the former Team Principal leading the team to a profound internal restructuring. Frederic Vasseur, just arrived in Maranello, where he was able to follow the first private tests up close and more formal presentations with the media clarified the objectives to be pursued from 2023.
No fear
The world title in Maranello has been missing for so many years as to be a taboo. Talking about it for the first time last year, after the last few disappointing seasons, put the Cavallino under a magnifying glass, which highlighted its strengths and weaknesses. Already back from the summer break the mood had definitely changed, there was tension, mixed with disappointment. The car didn't express its full potential as well as the team. The first step towards the rebirth was entrusted to Vasseur, who despite the environment is still saturated with expectations, in front of the microphones has shown a surprising calm and great motivation. With this calm, expressing himself directly, he spoke of the goals for 2023, and how he will manage the team, which he has decided not to revolutionize too much.
Vasseur made his debut in front of the media apologizing for his Italian, still to be revised: “First of all, good morning. Sorry for the Italian, I study every day, but… now I'm switching to English.” One of the questions that everyone is asking is whether the management has bet on Vasseur for his relationship with the young Leclerc. If they are therefore, create hierarchies between the pilots. Vasseur has But clarified that Ferrari comes first, and that there is a united team. "First guide? We are Ferrari and Ferrari is the real “tip”.
THEobjective? two world championships
To build something lasting you need to have solid foundations and Vasseur's first year will focus above all on this aspect. His predecessors are examples of this but this doesn't seem to faze or worry him. You don't need to intervene immediately on every issue, rather observe and distinguish what is right from what is wrong.
«When Ferrari called me I was drinking a coffee at home! There had been some rumors in the media, and it was a strange feeling because I had to deal with the situation in the week leading up to the Abu Dhabi weekend. For me the goal is not to be at Ferrari, the goal is to win with Ferrari, it's the top. For me, the finish line is not to be here, but it will be the day we are able to win. I've been here for two weeks, I've only spoken directly to about fifty people, while in Ferrari we are over 1200… For now I have collected positive impressions, there is a great atmosphere. I see that everyone wants to win, I feel the enthusiasm, I've noticed that everyone starts work early and finishes late, anything but the "Italian way of life". I take that everyone has the same goal».
That goal is ambitious and it really concerns securing the two world championships, without worrying about the expectations surrounding Maranello.“In Ferrari you are more exposed, expectations are very high, but it is part of the nature and history of this team. We are one of the three top teams, we have very clear objectives regarding the world championships, drivers and manufacturers. We must have this kind of motivation and clear goals, we must not be shy about this, we want to win, everyone wants to see Ferrari win world titles and that will be my goal."
Work continues in Maranello and there is much anticipation to discover the successor to the F1-75, which will be unveiled to the world on 14 February. Vasseur himself would like to immediately take the 675 project to the track to find a correlation with the data on the simulator. But we will have to wait a few more weeks, until the tests in Bahrain scheduled for 23 to 25 February.
Source statements: Motorsport.com, Tuttosport
