Miami served up one more bitter tablet for Ferrari followers, who as soon as once more needed to abdomen a lacklustre efficiency dressed up with post-race feedback from Frederic Vasseur that hardly mirrored actuality. “The chef,” because the Ferrari trustworthy have dubbed him, appears decided to maintain serving poorly ready dishes whereas persevering with to current them as connoisseur delicacies. However style—not like phrases—is sincere, and the target reality from the observe doesn’t lie.
Driver administration at Ferrari: the standard mess, ok for Fred Vasseur
The Group Principal claimed the workforce’s dealing with of its drivers was “good.” But Lewis Hamilton remained caught behind Charles Leclerc for a number of laps after the pit cease, shedding round 1.5 seconds to Andrea Kimi Antonelli throughout an important section of the race when his medium tyres had been at their greatest. The swap ought to have occurred instantly—or higher but, been a part of the race technique from the beginning. The delayed name harm each drivers’ tempo and instantly affected their competitiveness within the ultimate levels.
Even Lewis Hamilton himself, each over workforce radio and later with a cooler head, identified the flawed execution. Charles Leclerc, for his half, averted talking a lot over the radio to stop his frustration from being broadcast reside. A lot for “every little thing was excellent”—this was extra like groping in the dead of night whereas the stopwatch informed a really completely different story.
The automotive? SF-25, a damaged promise
In keeping with Fred Vasseur, Ferrari’s race tempo was according to Mercedes and Crimson Bull. However actuality paints one other image: greater than 57 seconds behind the winner and over 20 seconds adrift of the highest Mercedes and Crimson Bull. For about ten laps, the SF-25 seemed respectable. However the remainder of the race rapidly dispelled that phantasm. You may’t decide a 57-lap race based mostly on one quick stint—particularly not within the closing laps, when others are managing tyres and gasoline.
In the meantime, Charles Leclerc continues to state that he’s extracting every little thing he can from the automotive, and that with out actual updates, there’s no method ahead. “We’re getting essentially the most out of it,” he retains repeating—a sentiment in stark distinction with the phrases of Ferrari’s workforce principal, who insists on downplaying the problem and speaking about some legendary “untapped potential.”
When advertising drives the narrative
At this level, what we’re witnessing seems to be much less like a failed technical plan and extra like a fastidiously crafted communications technique, the place picture issues greater than outcomes. Nobody dares admit that the venture has failed—sponsors have to be reassured, and the subsequent spherical of merchandise should nonetheless be offered to loyal followers who at all times assist the pink vehicles.
However true Ferrari followers, who stick to the workforce even in exhausting occasions, deserve honesty—not statements that haven’t any hyperlink to the info. The parable that Ferrari is near being the second-best workforce should finish. Persevering with to promote hopes which might be repeatedly shattered by details not solely fails to ship outcomes—it drives away supporters who had been misled by daring predictions and triumphant declarations made firstly of the season, when the outcomes had been nonetheless zero.