Christian Horner asserts what can help Ferrari dominate Formula 1: ‘It has to become a racing team again’

Red Bull Boss, Christian Horner, gives advice to Ferrari on how to dominate Formula 1.

Christian Horner asserts what can help Ferrari dominate Formula 1: ‘It has to become a racing team again’

Christian Horner and Ferrari (via imago)

Ferrari has forever inscribed its name in the annals of Motorsport alongside Formula 1’s history. Such is the tight bond between the famous Scarlet cars and Grand Prix Racing. Ferrari remains the only team who have competed in every single season of the Formula One World Championship since the beginning. The Italian team ranks number one in terms of total title wins in Driver’s Championships as well as Constructor’s Championship. The Maranello outfit currently houses 16 Grand Prix titles and 243 Grand Prix wins.

However, the legendary team has experienced its toughest time in the World Championship in recent years. They have gone 16 seasons without a Championship title–their longest drought since the beginning of Formula 1. Kimi Räikkönen’s 2007 triumph remains the latest Championship win for Ferrari. Christian Horner, the Team Boss of Red Bull, the modern Goliath of Formula 1, recently spoke about the multiple challenges that the Italian factory faces. Horner also offered Ferrari advice on getting back on their winning ways.

YouTube video

Horner claimed that Ferrari has become a national institution and has lost its vision of being a pure racing team. He talked about the Italian outfit, as reported by speedweek.

FS Video
I think Ferrari's biggest problem is that it's a national team. It has to be a racing team again. It's an Italian institution and there are probably too many people talking there. Everyone gives their input and has something to say. One of our strengths has always been that we could change quickly. We make decisions and stick to them. And if we make the wrong decision, then we change it.

Has Ferrari become a shadow of its past self?

The Prancing Horse has had a torrid decade in the sport as they have won only 24 races since the beginning of the 2013 season. Ferrari have appeared to lose their footing embarrassingly in the past few seasons as several basic problems have plagued the racing team. These ’basic’ problems include mismanagement of multiple Grand Prix, seeming incompetent against the team orders of their rivals, multiple DNFs attributed to mechanical failures, etc.

Ferrari (via Planetf1)
Ferrari (via Planetf1)

Ferrari seemed to have hope a the beginning of the 2022 season as the F1-75 showed excellent pace during most of the pre-season testing and the opening few rounds. However, multiple mistakes in race management and a failure to develop the car throughout the year saw the Prancing Horse quickly fade out of contention for the Title as Max Verstappen laid claim to his 2nd Championship Title. In 2023, Hope surrounded the Scarlet team as they took victory at the Singapore Grand Prix becoming the only team yet to claim a win other than the dominating Red Bulls.

Horner’s advice for the team rings out louder when one remembers that the legendary team has not enjoyed a dominant streak since the turn of the millennium – the iconic Michael Schumacher years (2000-2004). Ferrari has made massive changes at the team, such as appointing a new Team Boss for 2023, and has looked eager to get back to their familiar front-row finishes. It will be interesting to see whether the team can return to their best again.