After a month spent between rumors and denials, the official announcement of Frederic Vasseur at the helm of Scuderia Ferrari as team principal arrived on the morning of December 13th.
In fact, the news initially branded as “unfounded rumors” by Ferrari materialized one after the other, from the departure of Mattia Binotto, up to the announcement of Fred Vasseur himself to replace the Italian manager after arriving from the Alfa Romeo Sauber team.
The “search for a new team principal” by the top management of Ferrari, as stated in the press release confirming Mattia Binotto’s resignation, ended with the identification of Fred Vasseur (long-time racing man) as the right figure to take the reins of the Scuderia and bring it back to success after 15 years without any titles and a rather disappointing 2022 Formula 1 season that ended with a double second place in the drivers’ and constructors’ standings.
A target which, inevitably, the French manager himself also aims for as soonaspossible: in the official press release to announce his appointment, Frederic Vasseur said that he wanted to honor the history of Ferrari, a team that “represents the pinnacle of the racing world”.
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A desire also underlined by the great commitment that the Frenchman will dedicate to Ferrari. As reported by Micheal Schmidt, in a recent article for the German magazine ‘Auto Motor Und Sport’, starting with January 9 (date on which he will officially begin his new job), the management of the Scuderia Ferrari will become Fred’s main focus, such as to lead him to set aside the multiple activities in which he is involved, from the management of drivers, the ownership of the ART team and of Spark (a body chassis company in Formula E).
“A discussion with the top management of the Ferrari team was necessary for Vasseur’s confirmation, because being Ferrari team principal means being in Maranello 24 hours a day, seven days a week: something Vasseur did not do at Sauber. The announcement was delayed precisely because of the ‘arrangement’ of his activities, but Vasseur will always be present in Maranello” .
A constant presence, also highlighted by the recent purchase made by the new team boss: Fred Vasseur bought a house a few steps from the Ferrari Racing Department. In fact, Frederic is preparing for an all-encompassing experience in Maranello, in which he will be called upon, as quickly as possible, to bring home a a title continuing the work begun (and inherited) by Mattia Binotto.
A work, the one on the Ferrari 2023, which is in an advanced state of completion, so much so that the data from the wind tunnel and engine test benches are, they say, astonishing. Precisely regarding the engine, again according to what Schmidt revealed, “Ferrari will have the strongest power unit and, for this reason, will be able to use the power shown at the beginning of 2022”.
A factor which, therefore, confirms the resolution, already exposed in recent weeks, of the reliability problems that emerged in 2022 and which cost Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz many points. Points that, hopefully, will no longer be lost along the way, with the goal of being able to successfully fight against Red Bull and Mercedes in 2023.
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