Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher feels Scuderia Ferrari are still “suffering” due to the “politics” imposed by the late Sergio Marchionne: the former chairman and CEO of Ferrari believed that an all-Italian version of the team is how the Formula 1 Racing Division should operate, a decision that did not seem to bring the expected results, being hotly debated by the media and fans.
Sergio Marchionne, who earned a reputation for an outspoken and often blunt approach, resigned from all his positions and was replaced at FCA, Ferrari, SGS and CNH on 21 July 2018 and died on 25 July 2018 at age 66, most likely due to complications related to underlying cancer. He was an advocate of the Scuderia brand falling into the identity of Italy’s national Formula 1 team, and that being represented within its staff as well.
Following Jean Todt’s time at the top of the Ferrari Racing Division, during the successful years of F1 legend Michael Schumacher, the direction was clear: a series of Italian team members were given the chance to lead the Maranello F1 team, with Stefano Domenicali being the only one able to win another Formula 1 world championship, the 2008 Constructors’ crown.
After that there were several key Italian team bosses (Marco Mattiacci, Maurizio Arrivabene and Mattia Binotto) who all tried to get the Scuderia back at the sport of the sport, but all failed the target of winning the F1 title.
Mattia Binotto handed in his resignation at the end of the previous season and Frenchman Frederic Vasseur has been appointed as Ferrari team principal, after leading Alfa Romeo for the last six years. The French manager has therefore become only the fourth non-Italian figure to hold such a major role, and ex-Williams driver Ralf Schumacher feels there are several positive aspects to the new team boss arriving to Maranello from outside the organisation without previous interest in the team, despite the fact that it is clear Ferrari will not be able to fight for the F1 world title in 2023.
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“Yes, I see it that way,” – Ralf Schumacher explained when asked by Auto Bild on the key benefits Fred Vasseur can bring to the team by having a previously neutral presence – “He learned motorsport from scratch, and he seems to have great social skills, who finds the right approach to get the maximum out of each employee. But I still don’t think they will be a World Championship candidate. Even though I would like it to be because of the tension.” – the German added.
Ralf Schumacher further commented on his impression of the Ferrari moment, stating that the Maranello has in fact done a solid enough job in designing the SF-23 single-seater for the 2023 Formula 1 championship and Frederic Vasseur has “come to terms” with the issues from last season 2022.
At the same time, Ralf Schumacher feels that Mattia Binotto, who left Ferrari after almost three decades, was maybe not “assertive” enough in his decision-making as team boss, pointing out that his long-term relationship with Maranello team members sometimes affected his ability to make the correct decision for the Scuderia at critical moments of the F1 season. With the appointment of Fred Vasseur, the ex-Formula 1 driver is confident we will see “uncanny competence” return to the top of Ferrari, as it was in his brother’s glorious years in Maranello two decades ago.
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