The previous Ferrari president speaks concerning the Maranello group’s present state of affairs in Method 1. We’re referring to Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, who, even supposing he has been out of an important 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 nicely what it means to bear the burden of the historic Italian group. Throughout his presidency, Ferrari achieved its final Method 1 world championship successes, particularly the drivers’ title in 2007 with Kimi Raikkonen and the constructors’ title the next season due to Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa.
Ferrari is at the moment in a interval of transition. The training curve undertaken in 2024 has supplied a transparent sign, although: the Maranello group is bored with shedding and is doing every little thing to climb again to the highest. That is definitely no simple activity, because the competitors is at all times very fierce, and any mistake might be deadly. Within the just-concluded Method 1 season, as an example, the principle downside 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 nicely, with a strong basis on which to construct a rising championship.
And partly, it was so, till the disastrous aerodynamic replace package deal 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 aspect’s ambitions for achievement, because the technical division took no less than six Grands Prix in an effort to perceive and treatment the state of affairs. 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 precious 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 wherein the aerodynamic upgrades had been designed after which produced. For that reason, issues will change within the subsequent Method 1 racing marketing campaign.
There might be a distinct method, centered on the cautious research of improvements to convey to the observe. The objective is to emulate McLaren’s method, a group 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 might be pursued within the 2025 Method 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 concerning the Briton and what he can convey 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 improvement. 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.
In fact, the monetary affect may even be important; there is no such thing as a level in hiding it. Nevertheless, the phenomenon from Stevenage is becoming a member of the purple 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 Method 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 attention-grabbing, nevertheless, is his opinion on Lewis Hamilton. Regardless of being practically 40 years outdated, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo is satisfied that the Briton cares little about advertising. Lewis Hamilton will grip the Ferrari steering wheel with two aspirations: staying forward of his Maranello teammate and profitable his eighth Method 1 world championship title. That is the objective he has had in thoughts for a very long time, as surpassing Michael Schumacher’s report 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 should 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 really 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 means 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 relating to on-track duels which are sensationalized with each single contact. This restrictive method to racing battles doesn’t sit nicely 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 immediately, 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 observe limits.
Method 1 shouldn’t be a precision timepiece. There are facets 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 wished to share a number of phrases about Flavio Briatore and his new journey with Alpine. It is a superb selection, as the previous Renault group principal has already confirmed his capabilities prior to now, performing literal miracles with Benetton, bringing a comparatively unknown group to international prominence.
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