By: It is becoming a familiar pattern. Every four years, Scuderia Ferrari questions its present and future, with the long-awaited success still absent after two decades. This recurring dynamic partly absolves those at the helm of Gestione Sportiva Ferrari of responsibility. Yet, while influential, there are differences between Vasseur’s work and that of his predecessors. Formula 1 is a category in which opportunities must be seized, often in the form of regulatory revolutions. The Prancing Horse tried in 2022 and again this season, but a combination of circumstances has exposed shortcomings in the “package” too serious to allow it to challenge for the ultimate prize. Although the SF-26 is by no means a “frozen” project, McLaren and Red Bull have been delivering superior performances for several races. A rather unexpected trend, given that the ADUO was wrongly viewed as the weapon that would close, or at least reduce, the gap to the Mercedes W17.
Vasseur’s tenure has reached full maturity
Fred Vasseur’s leadership is under scrutiny. The French executive was rightly afforded mitigating circumstances, having taken over the reins of Gestione Sportiva Ferrari midway through 2023. The following season was among the most positive in recent years. The most repeated line was that Ferrari had returned to the fight for the constructors’ title until the final race, something not seen since Fernando Alonso’s days. What appeared to be a promising growth curve came to an abrupt halt last year because of one of the most disastrous technical projects conceived at Maranello. In the meantime, the French engineer from Draveil has had the time, opportunity and resources to shape the Prancing Horse’s organisational structure according to his own management philosophy. He has handed prestigious, responsible roles to people he trusts, but ultimately we are once again talking about the same old story. In the faces of Ferrari’s most prominent figures, drivers included, there is a sense of resignation towards an inescapable outcome. It is a weariness that has spread through Ferrari’s fanbase, especially among its older supporters.
Kimi, the nation’s saviour
Italian pride has latched on to Kimi Antonelli’s achievements, which unintentionally make the criticism from a section of the fanbase less harsh, as they feel properly represented by the Bologna driver. It marks an epochal shift in a country that has always placed the success of the historic Modena team above that of Italian drivers. It is a scenario that lessens the clamour surrounding Ferrari’s failures, especially among younger fans, who are more invested in the fortunes of their heroes.
