The fact that the mood and atmosphere within the Ferrari Racing Division is not particularly relaxed in the start of the 2023 Formula 1 season is no big secret. Several key figures have left the Maranello team due to the uncertainty following the resignation of ex-Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto at the end of the previous championship.
As if this were not enough, Charles Leclerc’s first, justified concerns have now also been added. The Monegasque is clearly worried by the events that are taking place in the Ferrari management, as well as the poor performance expressed by the SF-23 challenger in the Bahrain race weekend, and as a result he therefore requested a meeting with Ferrari chief executive officer Benedetto Vigna and Ferrari president John Elkann.
The Ferrari CEO, as reported by Corriere della Sera, would also not be satisfied with some management points of the new Team Principal, Frederic Vasseur.
Fred Vasseur – Benedetto Vigna: first tensions
The Frenchman, in particular, would be guilty of having traveled to Bahrain together with his friend Toto Wolff. An episode which, although apparently harmless, was not at all appreciated by the Ferrari top management. The friendship between Frederic Vasseur and the Mercedes team principal is well known in reality, so much so that the two would even had a private discussion in the motorhome of the three-pointed star after the inaugural race of the 2023 Formula One championship.
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This disagreement between Benedetto Vigna and Frederic Vasseur is actually added to another story dating back to a few weeks ago. In fact, the Ferrari chief executive officer does not seem to have appreciated a commercial initiative by the Frenchman, intent on forging a partnership with a new sponsor. Benedetto Vigna told Frederic Vasseur to stick to his duties, pointing out that he does not have a say in the decisions linked to the Ferrari sponsors and partners.
Certainly this is not the best of signs, given that the fear of a real technical restructuring after the Mattia Binotto management is now clear.
As reported by Corriere della Sera, since Benedetto Vigna’s arrival at Ferrari there is a climate of “uncertainty and fear”. A few days before the second race of the season, things are getting more and more difficult for the new Ferrari team principal. Despite these issues, Frederic Vasseur is still in a “strong position” according to the Italian newspaper, because of Ferrari’s lack of glory since crowning their last drivers’ champion in 2007, and because of the revolving door of team principals.
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