The previous Ferrari president speaks concerning the Maranello staff’s present scenario in System 1. We’re referring to Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, who, although he has been out of a very powerful motorsport sequence for a lot of seasons, continues to observe the fortunes of the Prancing Horse with nice affection. On a number of events, nevertheless, his criticisms of Ferrari’s administration haven’t been missing, because the 77-year-old Italian entrepreneur is aware of properly what it means to bear the burden of the historic Italian staff. Throughout his presidency, Ferrari achieved its final System 1 world championship successes, particularly the drivers’ title in 2007 with Kimi Raikkonen and the constructors’ title the next season because of Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa.
Ferrari is presently in a interval of transition. The educational curve undertaken in 2024 has supplied a transparent sign, although: the Maranello staff is bored with shedding and is doing all the things to climb again to the highest. That is definitely no straightforward activity, because the competitors is at all times very fierce, and any mistake could be deadly. Within the just-concluded System 1 season, for example, the primary drawback was associated to automobile updates. Everybody within the paddock is aware of the story of the SF-24 single-seater: a automobile that began very properly, with a strong basis on which to construct a rising championship.
And partially, it was so, till the disastrous aerodynamic replace package deal launched by the Maranello staff’s engineers and technicians on the Circuit de Catalunya within the Spanish Grand Prix. A flooring that destroyed the Italian aspect’s ambitions for achievement, because the technical division took a minimum of six Grands Prix as a way to perceive and treatment the scenario. A lot time was misplaced, throughout which performances had been lower than par for Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, and consequently, neither had been the outcomes, resulting in many invaluable factors misplaced towards rivals McLaren. A part of the blame lies within the eagerness to anticipate timelines, the place the working group didn’t notice the deceptive context by which the aerodynamic upgrades had been designed after which produced. For that reason, issues will change within the subsequent System 1 racing marketing campaign.
There will likely be a unique method, centered on the cautious research of improvements to deliver to the monitor. The aim is to emulate McLaren’s method, a staff able to implementing a number of improvements on the MCL38 and at all times hitting the mark. It’s higher to lose a number of additional weeks however have the mandatory certainties than to waste months and lose the right working level of the automobile. That is the goal that will likely be pursued within the 2025 System 1 championship, when at Maranello, apart from Monegasque Charles Leclerc, the seven-time F1 world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton may also drive the Ferrari.
There was a lot discuss concerning the Briton and what he can deliver from Mercedes after the golden period skilled at Brackley. A wealth of technical information and insights will likely be contributed to the Scuderia. The know-how amassed by Lewis Hamilton will undoubtedly be very helpful. Furthermore, the expertise and sensitivity of the English driver will information the automobile’s growth. The British driver is an absolute champion, probably the most profitable one within the a very powerful class of motorsport. For that reason, his arrival in Italy can’t be described as merely a business operation.
In fact, the monetary influence may also be important; there isn’t any level in hiding it. Nonetheless, the phenomenon from Stevenage is becoming a member of the pink staff to assist Ferrari erase that bothersome zero within the title column, which has been persistently current within the standings since 2008. Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, as talked about. A person who started his System 1 journey as an in depth collaborator of Enzo the “Drake” Ferrari. His expertise is undoubtedly immense, however this doesn’t forestall him from commenting on Ferrari with a sure simplicity. The Italian businessman considers the presence of a aggressive automobile for subsequent yr to be important.
What appears extra fascinating, nevertheless, is his opinion on Lewis Hamilton. Regardless of being almost 40 years outdated, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo is satisfied that the Briton cares little about advertising and marketing. Lewis Hamilton will grip the Ferrari steering wheel with two aspirations: staying forward of his Maranello teammate and successful his eighth System 1 world championship title. That is the aim he has had in thoughts for a very long time, as surpassing Michael Schumacher’s document and, in a single stroke, bringing Ferrari again to the highest of the world would make him a motorsport legend much more than he already is in his lengthy F1 profession.
Nonetheless, he must deal with a far-from-easy teammate. Charles Leclerc, too, fuels the identical need because the Englishman each single day of his life. Furthermore, there are drivers like Max Verstappen, who actually outdid himself in 2024. That is Luca di Montezemolo’s view on the Dutchman’s phenomenal efficiency. A driver who can solely be praised abundantly, given his expertise and his innate capacity to at all times impose himself on opponents, whatever the efficiency of the automobile beneath him.
To conclude, the previous Ferrari president additionally speaks concerning the FIA, significantly concerning on-track duels which might be sensationalized with each single contact. This restrictive method to racing battles doesn’t sit properly with the Italian, who mentions Gilles Villeneuve and Rene Arnoux of their epic conflict at Dijon within the 1979 French Grand Prix. Such a situation, if it occurred at this time, can be unacceptable. “They’d throw them in jail these days,” feedback Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, and he has his causes. Extra rationality is required as a result of feelings, for example, can not merely be erased by sensors embedded within the asphalt to observe monitor limits.
System 1 shouldn’t be a precision timepiece. There are elements of racing that ought to stay as they’re to maintain the spirit of the class alive and intact. There may be additionally a reminiscence of Michael Schumacher, who’s as important to Luca Cordero di Montezemolo because the air he breathes day by day of his life. Lastly, the previous Ferrari chairman needed to share a number of phrases about Flavio Briatore and his new journey with Alpine. It is a superb selection, as the previous Renault staff principal has already confirmed his capabilities previously, performing literal miracles with Benetton, bringing a comparatively unknown staff to world prominence.
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