The vintage of Formula 1 of Ferrari it didn't end in the best way, especially given the initial proclamations. After a winter dedicated to solving the problems of the crippled SF-22, in Maranello there was optimism once they arrived in Bahrain, but the asphalt was not a lenient judge with the little horse's single-seater. In a year that carried with it the aftermath of Binotto's mismanagement, Vasseur was the man in charge of reviving the Scuderia. The Frenchman acted where he could, rediscovering the balance that had been lost in previous seasons. After a year of management, how much and where has Frederic Vassuer's Ferrari changed?
Pilots and whims
If there is a first aspect in which to praise Vasseur, it is the management of the riders. The Sainz-Leclerc couple is certainly not the most close-knit, but in a year like this the TP managed to do the right thing: making the two work together at a time when they needed to come together to get back on top. There were skirmishes, but except for a few occasions, there was no shortage of sacrifices to maximize the team's result. What is certain is that the increasingly black blood that flowed between the two the previous year seems to have cleared up.
As regards Leclerc in particular, it seemed impossible to get the horse out of his heart, yet there was someone who was succeeding. The new team principal must be given credit for having cultivated the relationship with number 16, bringing him back closer to Maranello's cause. It is no coincidence that Leclerc often utters words in favor of Vasseur, throwing far from veiled digs at the previous management. In short, if it's convincing – as countless sources declare – to have both drivers renewed, at least he will be able to do it, right?
A less stubborn direction
Vasseur also stood out from the previous management for how he managed the internal structure. The French, and it is obvious, despite being the latest arrival he clearly understood what the redhead's problems were. More importantly, it was the ability to intervene safely and promptly in these aspects. The most symbolic case was the repositioning of Inaki Wheel, author of some of the most wicked strategies ever born from the horse. Vasseur underwent surgical intervention to move him into a role of less responsibility, and a few fewer disasters were the result. There was no shortage of more or less voluntary farewells, as in the case of Mekies e Sanchez.
They should not be forgotten new grafts da Red Bull, One a sign of open-mindedness and less stubbornness compared to previous years which will undoubtedly bear fruit in the long term. Admitting to being incomplete and drawing from those who do better is what Binotto sinned in, and what Vasseur is doing.
The key point of Vasseurian management is one: the losing the absolute centrality of the team principal. The horse of the past years was a lot Binotto-centric. The pro was the less pressure on the shoulders of the professionals, but on the other hand it was not always clear who did what. According to Leclerc, Now the team principal “He manages to incentivize everyone, e.g everyone performs better than before". Having elected Enrico Cardile technical director gives a great reference, and the consequent disappearance of the harmful horizontality among the technicians can help to settle the workforce and start again on the right foot. In short, if it works like this even in the best teams, there must be a reason.
Strategy and single-seater: between imperfections and inheritance
There's no point in hiding it, the red's strategic department is not yet sufficiently tested. Since Rueda's dismissal the number of debacles has decreased, but the imperfections and errors that cost dearly are not yet low enough to fight with those who never make mistakes. If this is the situation when fighting for the low podium, it is difficult to think that we can hold our own against our rivals in the event of a competitive single-seater. There is still work to do.
As far as the car is concerned, little can be said about Vasseur. The SF-23 bequeathed by Mattia Binotto is a failed evolution of the previous one, to say the least. Vasseur & Co. tried to fix things by bringing an SF-23 B to Spain, moving closer to the Red Bull philosophy. If on one hand progress was not as hoped, on the other hand it is necessary to highlight that at least the season progressed, unlike last year. The development path è certainly been bolder compared to before, and the humility of admitting having taken the wrong path is what draws a line between the Scuderia's past and present.
Concluding the machine chapter, the greater continuity achieved by the team, now less tied to the management of a power unit that is no longer so unreliable. Unfortunately there is still something to change, including the race pace, too often far from the exploits of qualifying. We will have the true judgment on Vasseur's work in terms of management of the technicians next season, when the SF-24 (is this the name?) will be 95% new, and 100% his.
The usual problem
Having listed the strengths and weaknesses of the new leadership, all that remains is to look even higher. The gap between the team principal and the management is still sidereal. Vigna and Elkann continue to neglect the redhead, and the French leader can only be affected. It is difficult to blame Vasseur for the lack of ability to make himself heard, as the approach should not be triggered by those below. Given the situation, however, it would not be absurd to hope for a wake-up call from those who seem to care most.
Frederic it seems, at least from the outside, convinced that he found himself in Ferrari by chance. You can't ask the Frenchman for the moon, but given the apparent stability of his position, a little more character and security wouldn't hurt – like Wolff or Horner, so to speak – . Although Vassuer's Ferrari has changed positively, the red's season cannot be considered fully sufficient. The complete report card of the team principal's work will still have to wait, when the consequences of those who were there before will have diminished to the point of being able to attribute everything - or almost everything - to the Frenchman.
