The way James Allison was treated in Maranello is behind Ferrari’s difficulties in convincing top technicians: “A stigma in England.”
“What happened with Allison has become a stigma in England.” Italian journalist Leo Turrini put it plainly to explain what lies behind Ferrari’s now diminished attractiveness to foreign Formula 1 technicians.
James Allison has a long history with the Scuderia. He was part of the Maranello team until 2005, then moved to Renault, only to return to Ferrari in 2013.
After taking on the role of technical director, the British engineer abruptly ended his collaboration with Maranello in 2016, following his wife’s passing.
“It’s a sad story and, in hindsight, a mistake on Ferrari’s part, a glaring error,” Leo Turrini explains – “In 2016, while James was in Melbourne for the GP, his wife passed away. Having three children, Allison asked if he could work from home in England,” the journalist recounts.
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“Initially, Ferrari granted him permission. However, the on-track results were not positive, and an infuriated Sergio Marchionne insisted he return to the factory. James asked for more time, but it wasn’t granted. The rest, as you know, is history… he moved to Mercedes.”
“Ferrari’s was a glaring mistake”
“Not a few technicians now reject Ferrari’s offers because they know its recent history,” Leo Turrini pointed out. “The story of Allison and the treatment he received from Sergio Marchionne and Maurizio Arrivabene has become a stigma across the Channel. Certain debts are not paid immediately, but with time…”
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