Alessandro Benetton, former President of Benetton Formula, has shared his thoughts on Ferrari’s current crisis, offering insights into what the Maranello team must do to gradually return to the top of Formula 1. Speaking on Sky Sport F1’s show Race Anatomy after the Singapore Grand Prix, the Italian entrepreneur reflected on leadership, growth, and the importance of change during difficult times.
Benetton Formula remembered
As part of the broadcast, Sky Sport F1 also celebrated the upcoming release of the documentary Benetton Formula, produced by Slimdogs and set to debut on November 28. The film marks the 30th anniversary of the Italian team’s greatest triumphs in Formula 1 — from Michael Schumacher’s first world titles to the 1995 Constructors’ Championship — with exclusive interviews from the drivers and managers who made those successes possible.
However, Alessandro Benetton’s presence on the show went beyond nostalgia. Reflecting on the most recent race at Marina Bay, he offered his personal view of Ferrari’s ongoing difficulties. “There are moments when a team can’t find that discontinuity — that break from the past — which is essential to move forward and improve,” he explained. “The Eastern philosophy says that when a plant stops growing, it dies. It happens in companies, it happens in projects — when that desire to go beyond fades away, it becomes very difficult to manage. Because somewhere, there’s always someone emerging who can make the difference, just as we did at Benetton Formula in our time.”
Ferrari’s crisis and the search for new leadership
The situation at Ferrari, Benetton noted, is complex. When asked what he would do if he were in charge of the Scuderia today, he declined to give a direct answer but hinted at what he believes is missing. “That’s too difficult a question,” he admitted. “Aside from my Formula 1 experience, I’ve always been involved in my own business activities, and I recently returned to our family group with the goal of bringing back that sense of discontinuity — that ability to innovate — which used to be part of our DNA. Good manners suggest not to look into other people’s plates, so I don’t want to make assumptions, especially since I haven’t lived that world closely in recent years.”
Benetton added that Ferrari’s return to success in the past was largely thanks to Michael Schumacher — not only for his driving skills but also for his contagious determination. “Ferrari started winning again because of Schumacher, who wasn’t just a great driver,” he said. “He carried an incredible energy and was able to spread it to others — a mix of precision, determination, and a total commitment to the cause. That energy became contagious within a team that had been struggling for years. I believe that during moments of change, companies need to identify these kinds of leaders — people capable of making a difference with their energy and example. I can’t name one for Ferrari today, but I’m sure that successful teams are almost always built around an exceptional individual and the structure that grows around them, rather than from a simple plan of daily operations.”
The courage to change
To conclude, Benetton recalled a famous remark once made by Gianni Agnelli: “How is it possible that people who make sweaters are better than us at building Formula 1 cars?” Reflecting on that line decades later, he said, “I think he really did say that. It’s the courage of change — something that’s easier to embrace when you have nothing to lose. But when tradition, reputation, and past success become a cage, that’s when you fall into the trap. We started with many hopes and few certainties, and that gave us the courage to change.”
He added that this same philosophy continues to guide him today: “I want to bring that same mindset back into our group, as we’ve done in recent years — to remind ourselves that even when you think you’ve found all the answers, as one writer said, someone changes the questions.”
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