The debut of the Ferrari SF-23 challenger was not in line with expectations at the Bahrain International Circuit, which only increased the pressure, because the Maranello team was expected to perform much better in this start of the season.
David Sanchez’s resignation was the detonator (today the French engineer posted a message on LinkedIn in which he formalized his departure, explaining that it was decided for some time) and the hunt for other names who could leave GeS in the next few weeks was unleashed in the Italian media. This Monday morning in Maranello was therefore more intense than a day of debriefing after a race that went badly like that of Sakhir.
The reason? There seems to be an urge to destabilize Fred Vasseur’s management. The French team principal is discovering what it means to be the head of a structure different from all the others. And it seems that even Piero Ferrari, usually measured in taking a stand, warmed up to what he read over the weekend when the engines were off.
At the moment Ferrari prefers to remain silent. There is no willingness to enter into controversy, preferring to look to the second race which will take place at the Jeddah Corniche circuit in Saudi Arabia over the next weekend. A very different track from Bahrain which should favor the characteristics of the SF-23, given that aerodynamic efficiency will count more than downforce.
It can be said that Laurent Mekies, given for departure after David Sanchez, will regularly replace him on the Ferrari pit wall for the next round of the season. That fact that the Frenchman is looking around for a new role (he would have received an offer from Liberty Media to take the place vacated by Steve Nielsen, the sporting director who moved to the FIA) is true, but it is still possible that he continues with the Italian side by honoring the contract that ties him to Ferrari until 2024.
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And Enrico Gualtieri, head of the engine department, would also have entered the vortex of names that could leave: the Italian engineer is monitoring the problems with Charles Leclerc’s power unit which stopped the Monegasque in Bahrain due to the technical failure of the control unit (and perhaps of the second battery).
The internal combustion unit has not suffered any damage, while the elements of the power unit are likely to be verified in free practice and only afterwards it will be decided whether it is appropriate to take some risk or provide for another precautionary replacement which would lead Charles to already take a first penalty in the second round of a Formula 1 season that includes twenty-three events on the calendar.
Ferrari must get out of the black hole in which it ended up: all the optimism of the fans from the Fiorano launch of the SF-23 has turned into pessimism and the rumors of strong internal disagreements do not allow for a serene atmosphere at a time when a strong unity is needed more than ever.
Fred Vasseur, since taking office in Maranello, had never called a meeting with all the GeS employees, while last week to motivate the group he wanted to talk to everyone, also involving the two drivers. On stage there was also the human resources manager, Michele Antoniazzi, a leading figure in Ferrari: well, this first level, particularly esteemed by John Elkann, in fact proved to be the translator of the French manager, as Fred Vasseur does not want to express himself in Italian for now, although he is studying the language.
In fact, the desire to unite the environment emerged after the (strong) disappointment in Bahrain: the repeated technical problems that emerged at the debut, highlighted how the Racing Department may have been affected by the lack of a leading figure following the resignation of Mattia Binotto, until the appointment of the French manager.
That there is a bit of internal confusion in a phase of gradual reorganization is clear. But saying that there is a war between all is an exaggerated vision.
As reported by Motorsport Italy, Diego Tondi, head of aerodynamics, has taken the role of David Sanchez: the Italian is assisted by a couple of figures which recently arrived from Red Bull, in the hoping of bringing a breath of fresh air from the world champion team.
Everyone needs to keep their calm in this troubled phase of the season and, perhaps, it would be useful for a figure like the CEO, Benedetto Vigna, not to post a job offer on LinkedIn looking for an engineer. Each should stick to his role, otherwise even the HR with a microphone in his hand could seem to be the real manager of the Ferrari Racing Division.
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