Fred Vasseur, 6 months in Maranello
Certainly, being the team principal of Ferrari in a season where the team has only managed two podium finishes in eleven races isn’t the most enviable position in the world. It brings to mind a quip by Frederic Vasseur on the starting grid at the beginning of the year when he humorously commented on his newly acquired position, saying, “No pressure, easy life,” knowing full well the challenges that lay ahead in trying to revive the fortunes of the Prancing Horse.
The current fourth-place in the constructors’ championship ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, compared to the second-place in 2022, is an evident step backward, but McLaren has shown that with the right developments, one can quickly rise again in the ultra-competitive universe of Formula 1.
In a lengthy interview with today’s edition of Corriere dello Sport, Fred Vasseur talked about the team’s frustration with recent results but also the determination for the reconstruction work he is leading to bring the Scuderia back to where it belongs. “After six months at Ferrari, I’m still alive!” the French manager began, and then he explained that he doesn’t use an iron fist with his team members but prefers to work on their psychology and make them all feel vital.
Given his nationality and the long period without world championships, Fred Vasseur’s figure has often been associated with Jean Todt’s. He remarked, “What are we missing? What Jean Todt lacked between 1993 and 2000, even though all the ingredients were there: Jean was there, Schumacher was there, the right engineers were there, Bridgestone was there, Marlboro was there. Ferrari was there! But not everything was functioning, and they had to synchronize to make it work. Jean Todt’s real achievement was surviving the first 7 years of defeats, more than winning in the following 7.” – the French manager pointed out.
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Expectations and reality
Fred Vasseur also addressed the delicate issue of the announcements made during the winter, admitting that they “exceeded reality,” and it would have been hard to imagine during the SF-23’s launch on Valentine’s Day. The Maranello team was brought back to reality during winter testing, but the former Alfa Romeo Sauber team principal appreciated the team’s ability to react. However, he refused to set any specific goals for the rest of the championship other than developing the car and providing a timeline for a return to victory.
Regarding the recruitment campaign, the Ferrari team principal explained that a Formula 1 team is like a large ship because “changes of direction happen slowly.” Therefore, any new engineer who wants to influence the work will have to wait for two or three seasons. Fred Vasseur confirmed the hiring of around “80 technicians,” with 40 of them being new additions and the other 40 replacing departures, retirements, or role changes.
Sporting director Laurent Mekies will no longer be at the Maranello team’s pit wall after Spa-Francorchamps. His functions will be divided among 3-4 people, primarily Diego Ioverno, who will handle regulations and relations with the FIA. But for Ferrari, it’s already time for crucial decisions: “Decisions will have to be made about how many people to dedicate to aerodynamics, which direction to take for the new regulations in 2026, how many resources to shift from 2024 to 2026 – all delicate and strategic issues,” emphasized Fred Vasseur in his interview for Corriere dello Sport.
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