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Formula 1 2023: Bahrain GP BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT, BAHRAIN – MARCH 02: Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, and Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari during the Bahrain GP at Bahrain International Circuit on Thursday March 02, 2023 in Sakhir, Bahrain. Photo by Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images Images PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY GP2301_120853177A9752
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Formula 1 2023: Bahrain GP BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT, BAHRAIN – MARCH 02: Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, and Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari during the Bahrain GP at Bahrain International Circuit on Thursday March 02, 2023 in Sakhir, Bahrain. Photo by Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images Images PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY GP2301_120853177A9752
What is so special about Ferrari? Well, just the tag of being the most successful team of all time and an Italian DNA which they take pride in. Every time their driver wins a race, they add a flag at the Maranello entrance to signify and take forward the rich heritage of the scarlet team. However, a team that saw its most beautiful days with Michael Schumacher has only been struggling for the past 15-odd years. And another Schumacher now highlights the reason why Charles Leclerc or even Carlos Sainz cannot replicate glory.
There is nothing that the Ferrari doesn’t have at their disposal. Then why is the team not making any progress and is continuously breaking Tifosi’s hearts across the globe? Even the changing of guards between Mattia Binotto and Frederic Vasseur hasn’t helped the situation. German racing driver turned expert, Ralph Schumacher, has now highlighted the reason that is plaguing the team’s foundation despite a good chassis and engine. It is not driver mistakes or incorrect strategy calls.
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Frederic Vasseur FRA, Scuderia Ferrari, F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 16, 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Photo by HOCH ZWEI Jeddah Saudi Arabia *** Frederic Vasseur FRA, Scuderia Ferrari , F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 16, 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Photo by HOCH ZWEI Jeddah Saudi Arabia
In an interview with Autobild, Schumacher says, “Vasseur now has to work through all of this. This will need time. But the problem is still politics. I think they are still suffering from the announcement made by President Sergio, who died in 2018 Marchionne, who had proclaimed an all-Italian team a creed at Ferrari. An example: Vasseur’s predecessor Mattia Binotto. One who had worked at Ferrari from an early age, even with my brother, certainly didn’t lack the technical competence, but the assertiveness. “
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He further added, “I suspect that he was too closely linked to Ferrari to be able to make the right decisions. Which can sometimes be uncomfortable. But: it is not nationality that matters, but quality. The great strength in the successful era with my brother: there was incredible competence. My brother, Jean Todt, Ross Brawn or designer Rory Byrne, who was also involved with last year’s very good car. It was important that they were given all the freedom they needed.”
The Frenchman who already seems unsuccessful at keeping the woes away is not having it easy. He has even tried his best to embrace the heritage and become one with the team.
A reality check for new Ferrari TP, Frederic Vasseur
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When the team recruited the Frenchmen Vasseur, Ferrari fans had hopes of a new dawn. However, two races in, it seems like good packaging to sell an inferior product. This has only meant that the pressure on Fred to run a mammoth team like Ferrari has only mounted.
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Formula One F1 – Spanish Grand Prix – Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain – May 7, 2021 Alfa Romeo Racing Team Principal Frederic Vasseur talks in the Team Principals Press Conference FIA/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
In the latest episode of the F1 Nation podcast, journalist Tom Clarkson said, “I think, for Fred Vasseur, team principal of Ferrari, for what now, 2 months? I think it’s been such a reality check for him. I think he’s come in and just seen the scale of the project now at Ferrari.”
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Do you think Fred’s induction into the team could prove to be a game-changer in the long run? Let us know in the comments below.