Ralf Schumacher feels there is ‘little hope’ for a Ferrari championship win if there are no management changes


Ralf Schumacher feels there is ‘little hope’ for a Ferrari championship win if there are no management changes

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto (L) | Ralf Schumacher (R)

In Friday qualifying, Ferrari made a call that cost Charles Leclerc to set a time on the dry tyres or even one at all. He was the only driver out on the intermediates, and as soon as he went out on track, it became apparent that it was the wrong decision. But he did not enter the pits as he came around from his out lap, and decided to take a swing at it, but came in at the end of that lap.

ADVERTISEMENT

Then George Russell took a trip into the gravel and beached his car, which brought out a red flag with just over 8 minutes remaining. Then the rain started, which meant Leclerc would never have a chance to set a good enough time. In the sprint, he seemed to have fairly good pace, so one can only wonder where he could have ended up without the mistake.

As all know, this is not the first time the team’s call has cost him. Sky Expert Ralf Schumacher is certainly not impressed with the team, and heavily criticized them, as per Motorsport-Total.com: “Ferrari managed time and again this year to make mistakes in [any] situations where they could have made them. And where they could have done something well, they made mistakes [there] too.”

Laurent Mekies had defended the decision, saying that even despite the then dry track, heavy rain was imminent, so they decided to split the strategies. But Schumacher is having none of this explanation: “This excuse that you put both cars somewhere is a bit too thin, too pale for me. Others have done it too.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Also Read: “He has to assume some responsibility,” Damon Hill’s take on Charles Leclerc’s lackluster P10 showing during Brazil qualifying

Ralf Schumacher: Ferrari managed to make the least out of a fast car

Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz(on the left) and Charles Leclerc(on the right)
Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz(on the left) and Charles Leclerc(on the right)

Ralf Schumacher thinks Ferrari need changes, a sentiment that is echoed by many Tifosi themselves, and other pundits. The positive for Ferrari is that the car should (likely) not fall off a cliff here, so they can count at least on a competitive car, but if they continue to make such mistakes, it’s unlikely the car itself is going to net them any championships.

He said: “[Ferrari] have to change a few things. If it stays like this, I see little hope because the potential was there this year to win the World Championship. The car was fast, but they always managed to do it to make the least out of it.” He wants personnel changes: “Something has to happen urgently in the management, otherwise it will be difficult. Something has to change.”

It’s undeniable that even though Max Verstappen has been superior, the championship was not lost through driver mistakes or from the drivers being second-best. It was Ferrari’s own numerous mistakes that destroyed their chances before the summer break – and as for after the summer break, the package has never really been good enough over a whole race.

ADVERTISEMENT

Also Read: “Former, current, and future Champions?”: F1 fans react to a throwback picture of Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel at COTA

Also Read: ‘Show us the pole-to-win conversion rate’ F1 Twitter not impressed by Charles Leclerc’s statistics after 100 races