One of the most evident differences in communication management between Frederic Vasseur and Mattia Binotto is candor and transparency. The French team principal doesn’t shy away from addressing any aspect of his tenure at the helm of the Prancing Horse. In a recent interview with the pink newspaper, the manager from Draveil provided a kind of initial assessment of his experience in red, which began on January 9th of this year. He didn’t hide that the start of the season was tough, as the targets set by the technical department in the design of the SF-23 were completely missed: “We didn’t expect these results, but it was visible from the first day on the track. The most important thing in these cases is how you react as a group, and the reaction was good. Returning to the top takes time, just as when a very large ship has to change course, it’s not immediate.”
Regarding the current season, the head of GES stated that wind tunnel development of the car was completed at the end of July; however, the updates from the final phase of evolution of the 675 project will be brought to the track in the next ten races. Concerning the unexpected setback of the SF-23 compared to the 2022 season results, Vasseur believes that certain areas of the 2023 car have been excessively radicalized to the point of losing the qualities offered by the original aerodynamic design of the F1-75. This has caused more than a headache for the drivers, who are forced to tame an unpredictable car with inconsistent aerodynamic load.
As for Project 676, the French manager limited himself to specifying that the study of the 2024 car is in the “philosophical” modeling phase, as he stated explicitly, implying that the project will be deliberated using the maximum available time: “The deadline for the new red car is not the end of the year. The important thing is to be ready for Bahrain in March.”
Regarding the drivers, Fred Vasseur didn’t hide that he had to manage Charles Leclerc’s fiery spirit and appreciated Carlos Sainz’s consistency: “We can always do better, as a team and as drivers. Charles didn’t expect this situation, and at the beginning, he pushed too hard, now it seems he has internalized the situation. Carlos is very consistent and is a good reference for us. Charles is impulsive; if something isn’t right, he doesn’t hold back. But for his own good and that of the team, sometimes it’s better to calm down before speaking.”
Unfortunately, Charles Leclerc’s impulsiveness has turned into frustration due to the repetition of the same mistakes, which certainly can’t be attributed to the recent tenure of the French manager. Probably other more experienced colleagues in Charles’ place would have shown a more erratic behavior after years of illusions/disappointments.
Regarding the summer saga about the historic Italian team’s courtship of the seven-time world champion, Vasseur clarified that his friendship with Lewis Hamilton, born from their successful collaboration in the junior formulas, is the subject of unfounded speculation.
The very interesting and somewhat cryptic final note regarding the alleged negotiations with Lewis Hamilton stands out: “I don’t want to compare him to our drivers. But the contribution of a top driver isn’t just about driving; it’s also technical, strategic, helping to hire an engineer. And in this case, if you have a Hamilton, a Verstappen, but also a Leclerc, it’s easier. Those working in Formula 1 are passionate about racing; they enjoy working with champions.”
Carlos Sainz’s absence from the discussion is obviously conspicuous. It’s also clear that Ferrari’s allure for top engineers would be enhanced if champions of the caliber of Lewis or Max Verstappen aligned with the Prancing Horse, given that Charles has been part of the team for several years. Is it a motivation to support the difficulty of persuading top engineers, or an admission that, in the current state of affairs, without an established champion, the allure of the Maranello team risks fading away? Meanwhile, the (somewhat too) talkative French engineer confirmed the insourcing of 25 engineers, not yet operational due to gardening leave.
Among these is Loic Serra, a Performance engineer at Mercedes, for whom Vasseur hopes to reach an understanding with his friend Toto Wolff about the timing of the phase-out. The red team principal hinted that the dates of transfers can be subject to a “pawn exchange” between Maranello and Brackley. Once again, Vasseur has provided a candid analysis of the present and medium-term future of the Modena-based team. The hope is that results on the track will follow words. The history of the red team is all too full of well-intentioned promises sadly unfulfilled.
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