Ex-Ferrari CEO doubts Fred Vasseur’s ability to restore Scuderia Ferrari’s former glory
Doubts linger about Vasseur's ability to restore Ferrari to glory
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Fred Vasseur and Jean Todt (credits: Alamy)
Former Ferrari CEO and longtime FIA President Jean Todt have voiced doubts about Fred Vasseur‘s capacity to restore Ferrari to its former glory in Formula 1. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Saniz are driving for the Italian team that hasn’t fielded a World Drivers’ Champion since 2007 in 2023. With a strong team supporting him, Ferrari is hoping to get back to winning ways. Todt, who started again with Ferrari after it lost the championship from 1997 to 1999, was hesitant to anticipate Vasseur’s likelihood of success.
“Honestly, time will tell – is the only thing I can say,” Todt said in a conversation with CBS Sports. “I wish him the best luck, and you know, wish Ferrari the best luck.” Todt knows firsthand the difficulties of rebuilding a damaged icon like Ferrari. “When I joined Ferrari, the first of July 1993, it was kind of a damaged icon,” Todt said. “We had to rebuild everything.”
Last year, Ferrari had a promising start but ended up with a very poor season. The team manager Mattia Binotto left the squad as a result of the season’s strategic and performance failures. For this season, Fred Vasseur took his place, and the club had a terrible start. Vasseur, who became CEO of Sauber Motorsport in 2017 and guided the team to its best Constructors’ Championship result in eight years in 2022, was chosen earlier this year to become the new team principal of Ferrari.
Ferrari’s chances of success uncertain under Vasseur
During the season opener, the team qualified third and fourth, with Charles starting third on new sot tyres. Ferrari made the strategic decision not to execute a last push lap in order to save their tyres for a start. That paid immediately when Leclerc overtook Perez at the start of the race, although Redbull ultimately passed him. When Charles was comfortably placed in third place, his engine failed on the 41st lap of the race, forcing him to bow out of the race. Thus far, the Frenchman’s stint with the Italian squad has not gone well.
It remains to be seen whether Vasseur possesses the qualities that Todt believes are required for F1 success. However, after a rocky start to the season in the first race, Ferrari will need to make significant improvements if it hopes to reclaim its position atop Formula One. Todt’s hesitation in endorsing his fellow countryman suggests that there may be doubts in the racing community about his ability to restore Ferrari to greatness. Only time will tell if Vasseur can succeed in the role and help Ferrari reclaim its position as the sport’s dominant force.
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Justin P Joy
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