The previous Ferrari president speaks in regards to the Maranello group’s present scenario in Components 1. We’re referring to Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, who, even though he has been out of an important motorsport collection 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 effectively what it means to bear the burden of the historic Italian group. Throughout his presidency, Ferrari achieved its final Components 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 at present in a interval of transition. The training curve undertaken in 2024 has offered a transparent sign, although: the Maranello group is uninterested in dropping and is doing every little thing to climb again to the highest. That is definitely no straightforward job, because the competitors is all the time very fierce, and any mistake might be deadly. Within the just-concluded Components 1 season, as an example, the principle 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 effectively, with a stable basis on which to construct a rising championship.
And partially, it was so, till the disastrous aerodynamic replace bundle launched by the Maranello group’s engineers and technicians on the Circuit de Catalunya within the Spanish Grand Prix. A flooring that destroyed the Italian facet’s ambitions for achievement, because the technical division took not less than six Grands Prix to be able 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 helpful factors misplaced in opposition to rivals McLaren. A part of the blame lies within the eagerness to anticipate timelines, the place the working group didn’t understand the deceptive context through which the aerodynamic upgrades had been designed after which produced. For that reason, issues will change within the subsequent Components 1 racing marketing campaign.
There might be a unique strategy, centered on the cautious research of improvements to carry to the monitor. The purpose is to emulate McLaren’s strategy, a group able to implementing a number of improvements on the MCL38 and all the time hitting the mark. It’s higher to lose just a few additional weeks however have the required certainties than to waste months and lose the right working level of the automobile. That is the goal that might be pursued within the 2025 Components 1 championship, when at Maranello, apart from Monegasque Charles Leclerc, the seven-time F1 world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton may even drive the Ferrari.
There was a lot speak in regards to the Briton and what he can carry from Mercedes after the golden period skilled at Brackley. A wealth of technical information and insights might 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, essentially the most profitable one within the an important class of motorsport. For that reason, his arrival in Italy can’t be described as merely a business operation.
After all, the monetary influence may even be important; there isn’t any level in hiding it. Nevertheless, the phenomenon from Stevenage is becoming a member of the crimson group 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 Components 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 practically 40 years previous, 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 Components 1 world championship title. That is the purpose he has had in thoughts for a very long time, as surpassing Michael Schumacher’s file 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.
Nevertheless, he must take care of a far-from-easy teammate. Charles Leclerc, too, fuels the identical want 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 skill to all the time impose himself on opponents, whatever the efficiency of the automobile beneath him.
To conclude, the previous Ferrari president additionally speaks in regards to the FIA, notably relating to on-track duels which might be sensationalized with each single contact. This restrictive strategy to racing battles doesn’t sit effectively with the Italian, who mentions Gilles Villeneuve and Rene Arnoux of their epic conflict at Dijon within the 1979 French Grand Prix. Such a state of affairs, if it occurred at the moment, could 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, as an example, can not merely be erased by sensors embedded within the asphalt to watch monitor limits.
Components 1 shouldn’t be a precision timepiece. There are points 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 on daily basis of his life. Lastly, the previous Ferrari chairman needed to share just a few phrases about Flavio Briatore and his new journey with Alpine. It is a wonderful alternative, as the previous Renault group principal has already confirmed his capabilities up to now, performing literal miracles with Benetton, bringing a comparatively unknown group to world prominence.
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