“No pressure, relaxed life” – in this way Frederic Vasseur, interviewed in front of the Sky Sports UK microphones by Martin Brundle on the starting grid before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, downplayed rumours of finding it extremely to lead the Maranello team.
However, the Jeddah race proved to be a Formula 1 Grand Prix that clearly showed the great problems which, for now, are affecting the Ferrari SF-23, above all the performance not up to the competitors especially when the ‘race’ compound par excellence is mounted, the hard tyre. The former manager of Renault and Alfa Sauber accepted the honor and, above all, the burden of being the leader of the Maranello team and in just over two months – he officially took office on 9 January 2023 – has already understood that he has probably underestimated the pressure that the media, especially the Italian ons, can put on the men in red.
Ferrari is not difficult to manage
“Many people told me that Ferrari would be difficult to manage internally and this is not entirely true – the words of Frederic Vasseur reported by today’s edition of the Spanish sports newspaper AS following a press conference from the Ferrari team principal with the Spanish media – the atmosphere and collaboration within the team is good, but we have more pressure from outside. This type of comments can affect team morale, which can be influenced by rumors that have nothing to do with reality. But it will be my job to take care of this aspect” – the French manager pointed out.
Fred Vasseur not worried by absence of a technical director
After the departure of aerodynamics manager David Sanchez, the time seems to have come for Ferrari to look around to snatch valuable figures from rival teams, following the example of Aston Martin, which is rapidly climbing the standings towards the top, a position that is for now undoubtedly secured by Red Bull. Frederic Vasseur does not agree, however, with those who underline the absence of a real technical director at Ferrari after the fragmentation of the role under the guidance of his predecessor Mattia Binotto:
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“Technical director? We have Enrico Cardile, head of the chassis, and Enrico Gualtieri, head of the engine, it is the same structure as Mercedes or Renault – added Frederic Vasseur who was then asked if there is a department that needs to improve at Ferrari – “Yes, but I’ll keep it to myself.”
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