After fourteen races, F1 is experiencing a three-week break, useful for the teams to recharge their batteries, let the staff rest, organize their ideas to best tackle the second half of the season, and assess the results of the first half of the year. For Ferrari, this assessment includes 345 points earned, third place in the constructors’ standings, and two victories: the first in Australia with Carlos Sainz and the second in Monte Carlo with Charles Leclerc.
A comparison with the mid-2023 season shows that this result is undoubtedly positive both in terms of points and victories. However, beyond the numbers, the results are less positive than expected after the promising start to the season, which had led many to believe that Ferrari could consistently fight for victory. This marks a stark difference from the poor start in 2023. Still, due to the technical regression of the SF-24 following the introduction of the development package in Spain, for the second consecutive year, Ferrari has not been able to consistently compete for significant results, at least so far.
This regression led the team to experience a challenging summer, compounded by the significant technical turnover within the team, to which team principal Frederic Vasseur is trying to respond by keeping the team united. He has dismissed the rumors surrounding the Racing Department, reaffirming his trust in his team and expressing satisfaction with the progress made since he assumed the role of team principal in January 2023. These rumors have, in recent months, linked several figures to Ferrari, most notably Adrian Newey, who was courted and approached by the team but never secured, partly due to a staggering offer from Aston Martin and reportedly due to the excessive powers requested by the Briton.
In recent weeks, Mike Elliott, the former technical director of Mercedes, has also been linked to Maranello, and this speculation likely won’t end until the summer is over when, by his own admission, Fred Vasseur will officially announce the team’s new structure.
To these figures, although not a technician, Jean Todt, the former Ferrari team principal from 1993 to 2009 who brought about Ferrari’s golden age in the early 2000s, might be added. During a Q&A session on his blog “Profondo Rosso,” in response to a question (considering the confirmed absence of Adrian Newey at Maranello) about who could be a key figure to help team principal Frederic Vasseur in this challenging time, Leo Turrini revealed a rumor that the former FIA president had been spotted near via Abetone in Maranello.
“Recently, Todt senior was seen in the area. But maybe he was there for his contemporary art collection. But seriously: either you believe in a leader or you don’t.”
This sighting, which we’ve also confirmed through reliable sources, currently seems insignificant and not directly linked to a potential move by Ferrari. It could simply be related to some of the French manager’s interests in Emilia Romagna. However, it’s worth noting that for the second time in a few years, his name has been associated with Ferrari, possibly in the role of a super consultant, during difficult times, as happened in 2021.
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