In a period where Scuderia Ferrari is still searching for its technical identity after a series of inconsistent results, a former Formula 1 driver has pointed out that something crucial is still missing within the Maranello team—something essential for the Italian outfit to return to fighting at the very front of the grid.
The comments from Jacques Villeneuve, voiced shortly after the renewal of Frédéric Vasseur’s contract, have reignited debate about the current state of the legendary Italian squad. “Since Vasseur’s renewal, Ferrari has collapsed,” said the 1997 Formula 1 World Champion. Indeed, after the recent Singapore Grand Prix, the situation appears to have deteriorated further, prompting fans and experts alike to call for decisive action from Ferrari’s management.
Just twelve months ago, at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Ferrari celebrated a brilliant one-two finish, keeping its hopes alive in the Constructors’ Championship. Now, however, the scenario could not be more different. The SF-25 has proven to be a car without major weaknesses but also without distinctive strengths—an all-rounder lacking the edge needed to challenge for wins. For many of the Tifosi, who were hoping for another spectacular performance from Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, that reality has been a tough one to accept.
Patrese shakes Maranello: “Ferrari needs a figure like Newey”
Speaking to Escarpist Magazine, former F1 driver Riccardo Patrese did not hold back in describing what he believes is missing from the team’s current structure. “Ferrari is focusing on 2026, yes, but Ferrari’s problem is that they are Ferrari,” Riccardo Patrese explained. “There’s no one there with the same authority and influence that Adrian Newey has at Red Bull, or that Andrea Stella holds at McLaren.”
His reflections echo the thoughts of former Ferrari engineer Luigi Mazzola, who recently discussed the issue on Sky’s Race Anatomy. According to Mazzola, Ferrari still lacks a true technical director—someone who can fully coordinate the team’s engineering vision. Although Frédéric Vasseur appointed Loïc Serra, formerly of Mercedes, to oversee part of the technical operations at Maranello over a year ago, there remains the sense that Ferrari has not yet found a genuine technical leader capable of setting a clear long-term direction.
In the past, that role was fulfilled by Enrico Cardile, now at Aston Martin—the same team that successfully secured Adrian Newey’s services after Ferrari appeared close to signing the British engineering genius. This move once again highlights the different paths taken by the two teams: while Aston Martin continues to strengthen its technical department, Ferrari seems to be struggling to fill a crucial gap in its structure.
Between the need for long-term planning and the constant pressure for immediate results, Ferrari finds itself at a crossroads. The challenge goes far beyond raw performance or aerodynamic efficiency; it is rooted in the absence of a strong guiding figure—someone capable of unifying the technical departments and providing a consistent direction for the team’s development.
This lack of leadership has left the Scuderia vulnerable to internal fragmentation and fluctuating results, preventing it from building momentum in its pursuit of Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren. While the arrival of Hamilton was expected to provide a motivational boost, both fans and experts now recognize that leadership stability and technical authority are just as vital as driver talent when it comes to restoring Ferrari’s former glory.
Ultimately, the words of Jacques Villeneuve and Riccardo Patrese serve as a reminder that Ferrari’s real challenge may not lie in its aerodynamics or power unit, but rather in its organizational structure. Without a visionary leader—someone comparable to Newey in terms of influence and technical foresight—the Maranello-based team risks continuing its long struggle to return to the top of Formula 1.
