After another disappointing weekend for Ferrari, the chorus of discontent returns as reliably as a botched pit stop: “There needs to be change,” “Vasseur isn’t good enough,” “We need a revolution.” And as always, the one on the chopping block is the team principal. But are we really sure that changing the man in charge is enough to fix everything—or even that he’s the right man to be replaced? A calm reflection on a Ferrari that’s a victim of its own management, leading to the measured outburst of a fan.
We spoke at length with a passionate reader from our newsroom. One of the true ones, who has Ferrari tattooed on his heart but doesn’t let his fandom blind him. He loves the red, but doesn’t tell himself fairy tales. From this conversation came a harsh, bitter, yet incredibly clear reflection. A perspective we decided to share, because it says a lot—perhaps everything—about what’s really not working at Maranello today.
Our reader and fan, who wishes to remain anonymous for now, vented to us, and we gave voice to a thought that’s anything but obvious.
Ferrari hasn’t won a Drivers’ Championship since 2007. The last Constructors’ title? 2008. A lifetime ago. In between, many seasons started with hope and ended with heads down. Often the car was competitive, sometimes even with a shot at the title. But then, as if following a familiar script, something goes wrong: a pit stop, a strategy, a personnel decision. And everything deflates.
A thoughtful outburst from a fan about a Ferrari that’s its own worst enemy
The point is, in recent years Ferrari has shown it can build good cars. So the problem isn’t just technical—it runs deeper. It’s structural, ultimately managerial. Frederic Vasseur is the latest to sit in a seat that’s been burning hot for years. And now, after just over a year, there are already those who want him out. But he inherited a complicated machine, a heavy structure, an organization full of hierarchies not all of his choosing, and above all, little real autonomy.
How can we expect someone to come in, snap their fingers, and fix everything if they can’t freely choose their people, can’t implement their methods, and every move has to be approved by the “higher-ups”? The truth is, Fred Vasseur is working in a difficult situation, with his hands tied. And even so, we’ve seen some progress. But without patience, without trust, and above all without a shared vision, no one will ever work miracles in there.
The ghost of Jean Todt and nostalgia for the “dream team”
Since the Jean Todt and Michael Schumacher era ended, something has been lost at Maranello. Not just the trophies. That strong identity, that united and winning structure, that real team mentality vanished. Since then, countless revolutions. Engineers replaced, strategies overturned, promises unkept. But they’ve never managed to build a winning group again. A tight-knit group. A group that trusts each other, protects each other, and works as one.
And yet that’s exactly what time is needed for. To rebuild patiently, invest in the right people, and let them work. But every year starts over from scratch—and that leads nowhere.
Scuderia or corporation? A choice must be made for Fred Vasseur’s sake
Maybe it’s time to make a clear choice. To separate—at least conceptually—the Ferrari that sells cars from the Ferrari that races. Vigna reminded us of that today, commenting enthusiastically on profits. After all, a corporate figure cares about the extra revenue, not about seeing the real Ferrari win. Because the Scuderia must win, even if that means enduring tough seasons, with results that raise eyebrows. That’s the only way to truly build. McLaren teaches us: from dark years, they’ve managed to rise again and return to competitiveness (even if it meant doing half a season running P19 and P20). Because they had time, trust, and a clear project. Ferrari, instead, always seems to walk a tightrope, more afraid of losing image than races.
Blaming Fred Vasseur is easy. But useless. This isn’t a personnel problem—it’s a vision problem. As long as the approach doesn’t change, as long as those leading the team aren’t allowed to breathe, as long as the thinking remains that of a magazine-cover brand and not a racing team, Ferrari will always be the one that gets close… but never wins. It’s time for fewer grand proclamations and more teamwork. To build, to make mistakes, to improve. With patience, honesty, and above all, trust. Only then can the Prancing Horse truly return to the front. Otherwise, it will remain the eternal second. With or without Fred Vasseur.
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