Former Ferrari F1 Car Designer Calls Out Scuderia Board and Binotto for Failure to ‘Command’

Ever since Ferrari won their last championship title in 2008, the Scuderia have been stuck in a slow decline. They’ve always had some of the best drivers on the grid in recent times, but the results just haven’t gone their way. Many have blamed the lackluster cars that they have produced as one of the key causes. But a few, like the team’s former car designer Mauro Forghieri, claim that the team’s personnel decisions have led to this fall from grace.

The Prancing Horse has failed to match runaway leaders Mercedes ever since the V6-hybrid era began. But the bar fell to an altogether new low last year, as Ferrari ended the campaign in 6th position without a single race win and only 3 podiums. Forghieri blames the cataclysm on the appointment of the wrong personnel and also took a jab at team boss Mattia Binotto.

He said (translated by Google), “Ferrari undoubtedly has the means and men, what I don’t know is whether it has who can command. Today it is essential to have someone who knows how to do it, who knows how to choose men and put them in the right place. And this is not so easy.”

However, these statements may not take Binotto out of his job, despite some rumors that suggest so. After all, the new CEO, Louis Camilleri, has given Binotto his backing and has stated the team’s need to end the ‘revolving door’ policy.

As such, Binotto will still be the man to usher in a new error as the team aims to bounce back from their horror campaign.

Forghieri believes in Ferrari F1’s ability to come back strong

Despite his criticism of the Ferrari board and Binotto, Mauro has full faith in the Maranello-based outfit’s ability to turn things around in 2021.

“Normally when you take pay, you tend to react. In history the best teams have always had, after a bad year, a recovery in the next one.”

Only time will tell if his beliefs are justified. But it does seem though that Ferrari are ready to make the step up to the front of the grid. Will they be competing for the championship in 2021? That’s highly unlikely. But a top 3 finish is most definitely on the cards.

Also Read: 2021 Ferrari F1 Car Launch: Where To Watch and What Time Is the SF21 Reveal?