Ferrari go into this weekend’s German GP leading F1’s title races, the first time they have held points advantages in both world championships at this stage of the season since 2004. Sky in Italy’s F1 commentator Carlo Vanzini gives the Italian perspective on Ferrari – explaining why they are now better equipped to deal with the pressure of a title run-in, whether their engine is now the best on the grid, and if Sebastian Vettel will have a new team-mate next season.
How is Italy viewing Ferrari’s championship challenge?
Carlo Vanzini: “The mood is different from last year. Last year there was the idea that Sebastian could fight for the championship, but at this moment of the season Mercedes were in front in the Constructors’ Championship by 55 points. Now they are behind Ferrari by 20 points. The feeling in Italy is Ferrari have a very good car and a very good team. Of course, the Italian fans know that Mercedes is quite strong, but there is really the mood that it could be the right year to come back to win the championship. At least one of the two – the double would obviously be the best situation. People are talking more about Formula 1. Not only about Ferrari, but for what we are seeing on track with some amazing races. This is good for everybody. What I see is that the Tifosi still have to fall in love more with Sebastian. They are waiting for him to win the championship. It’s something that is quite natural; before being big fans, the Italians need to see that he wins – and that he wins a lot. It was the same situation with Michael Schumacher.”
Will Charles Leclerc replace Kimi Raikkonen in 2019?
Carlo Vanzini: “Personally, I think Charles will be Ferrari’s driver in 2019. But the situation is that while Charles has signed for Ferrari, at the moment he doesn’t know when he will become a Ferrari race driver. He is also waiting to find out. I think it’s time to change. I’m a Kimi Raikkonen fan. I like him and how he is. He’s an old-style driver. He just loves to drive. He doesn’t talk so much, but if you look at his Instagram it’s fantastic every time. He’s one of the heroes that you would love to see in sport, but it’s time to change. It’s the fifth season since he came back to Ferrari, without victories, and every season at one moment we say ‘why isn’t Kimi so strong?’. Then he has a very good race and so we always say ‘Kimi has to stay’. It was the same in Italian football with Francesco Totti at Roma. An incredible player, but all season the manager had to give opportunities for him. Then Totti played and people said ‘they shouldn’t play him because we play better without him’. So I think that it’s time to come away from this situation. Is it right or not? If every season you have to think that then maybe it’s the moment when you have a very good, young driver that you make the change. But to find such a young driver at Ferrari you have to go back to the 1960s and the time of Ricardo Rodriguez, who was the youngest to drive for them. From the Schumacher era onwards, the youngest was Felipe Massa at 24 years of age. But Felipe arrived after being a Sauber driver and after being a Ferrari tester, when test drivers had the opportunity to drive the current car all the time. Now they don’t, although I know Charles does a lot of simulator work at Ferrari. If you go into Sauber everybody says ‘he’s ready and he’s strong, but don’t push him’.”
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