The previous Ferrari president speaks concerning the Maranello group’s present scenario in Formulation 1. We’re referring to Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, who, although he has been out of an important motorsport collection for a lot of seasons, continues to comply with the fortunes of the Prancing Horse with nice affection. On a number of events, nonetheless, 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 Formulation 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 presently in a interval of transition. The educational curve undertaken in 2024 has supplied a transparent sign, although: the Maranello group is uninterested in dropping and is doing every thing to climb again to the highest. That is definitely no simple process, because the competitors is all the time very fierce, and any mistake may be deadly. Within the just-concluded Formulation 1 season, as an example, the primary downside was associated to automotive updates. Everybody within the paddock is aware of the story of the SF-24 single-seater: a automotive that began very effectively, 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 at the least 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 useful 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 notice the deceptive context through which the aerodynamic upgrades had been designed after which produced. Because of this, issues will change within the subsequent Formulation 1 racing marketing campaign.
There can be a unique method, targeted on the cautious research of improvements to carry to the monitor. The purpose is to emulate McLaren’s method, a group able to implementing a number of improvements on the MCL38 and all the time hitting the mark. It’s higher to lose a couple of additional weeks however have the required certainties than to waste months and lose the correct working level of the automotive. That is the goal that can be pursued within the 2025 Formulation 1 championship, when at Maranello, apart from Monegasque Charles Leclerc, the seven-time F1 world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton will even drive the Ferrari.
There was a lot discuss concerning the Briton and what he can carry from Mercedes after the golden period skilled at Brackley. A wealth of technical data and insights can 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 automotive’s growth. The British driver is an absolute champion, probably the most profitable one within the an important class of motorsport. Because of this, his arrival in Italy can’t be described as merely a business operation.
In fact, the monetary impression will even be important; there is no such thing as a level in hiding it. Nonetheless, 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 Formulation 1 journey as a detailed collaborator of Enzo the “Drake” Ferrari. His expertise is undoubtedly immense, however this doesn’t stop him from commenting on Ferrari with a sure simplicity. The Italian businessman considers the presence of a aggressive automotive for subsequent 12 months to be important.
What appears extra attention-grabbing, nonetheless, 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 and marketing. Lewis Hamilton will grip the Ferrari steering wheel with two aspirations: staying forward of his Maranello teammate and profitable his eighth Formulation 1 world championship title. That is the purpose 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.
Nonetheless, he should 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 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 potential to all the time impose himself on opponents, whatever the efficiency of the automotive 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 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 situation, if it occurred in the present day, 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.
Formulation 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’s 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 a couple of phrases about Flavio Briatore and his new journey with Alpine. It is a superb 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 international prominence.