Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur: 8 construction sites for 2023 / Formula 1

​Since December 13, Ferrari has confirmed: The new team boss of the most famous racing team in the world is called Fred Vasseur. The 54-year-old Frenchman has a lot of work to do, here are the most important construction sites.

Ferrari hasn’t won a Drivers’ World Championship since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, and the Italians haven’t won a Constructors’ Cup since 2008. In the 2022 season, a trend from previous years could be seen again – after a good start to the season, at some point the air ran out. Mattia Binotto resigned before he had to be fired.

Since December 13th it is confirmed: The new savior in Maranello is called Fred Vasseurand the 54-year-old Frenchman will have to roll up his sleeves very far to get rid of the numerous construction sites at the Italians.

Construction site 1: development
Whether with Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel or Charles Leclerc – Ferrari’s hopes for the title were ultimately dashed because the competition developed more efficiently. Ferrari started 2022 with the undisputed fastest car, but then the Italians fell behind Red Bull Racing, and towards the end of the season the Reds also had to let Mercedes dance on their noses.

Construction site 2: stability
Engine failure at Charles Leclerc in Spain (leading), engine failure for the Monegasque in Baku as well, which also compromised the race in Canada because Charles had to move back after installing new engine parts. Spectacular engine fire from Carlos Sainz at the Red Bull Ring.

Ferrari looked toothless at the Mexican Grand Prix, and team boss Mattia Binotto finally admitted for the first time what we had suspected in the high air of Mexico City. “We had to reduce performance to stay on the safe side in terms of stability.”

Construction site 3: race strategy
In Monaco, local hero Charles Leclerc lost the lead due to a clumsy pit stop strategy. In England, Ferrari did not bring Leclerc into the pits under the safety car, and the Monegasque fell back again. Ironically, Ferrari stablemate Carlos Sainz won.

In Hungary, Leclerc received the hard tire with him, although it had long been clear that this compound was a bad choice that day. In Brazil, Leclerc was sent onto the track in qualifying on intermediates, all other drivers were on slicks.

These are just a few examples of blunders at the command post, and there were endless discussions over the radio between the driver and the technicians. Fred Vasseur will have to clean up with all of this.

Construction site 4: pit stops
Certainly, even with other racing teams not every move is perfect when changing tyres. But Ferrari only appears in 4th place in the annual list from F1 logistics company DHL in terms of tire change speed, with Red Bull Racing being the best in its class. The worst example: When Carlos Sainz came into the pits at Zandvoort, the wrong tires were ready for the Spaniard. Drivers were called to the pits too late several times during the season, as was the case with Leclerc in Brazil.

Site 5: pecking order
We have the greatest respect for Carlos Sainz, after all, the 28-year-old from Madrilene left Leclerc behind in his first season in 2021 with Ferrari. But Charles got along better with the 2022 car, Leclerc was the only one who could regularly stand up to Verstappen in terms of speed. Ferrari has to put up with the accusation: If the Italians had relied on Leclerc from the start, they could have dreamed of the title longer.

Site 6: Psychology
Speaking of Charles Leclerc: the relationship between Mattia Binotto and his star driver cooled off in the summer; the Monegasse is one of those drivers who needs to be given the feeling of being really loved, then he can develop ideally. Vasseur has been close friends with Charles for years and is known to understand pilots.

Construction site 7: mentality
Mattia Binotto, at the head of the Ferrari racing team, has not managed to create the kind of hunger that inspires the Mercedes-Benz and Red Bull Racing teams. The team bosses Toto Wolff and Christian Horner said almost identical words when it came to attitude: “We approach every race as if we hadn’t won a single Grand Prix.”

It’s not enough to be the big Ferrari, the employees have to want success with every fiber of their being. Winning mentality starts in the mind. Fred Vasseur needs to internalize this with his employees.

Construction site 8: Politics
Perhaps the trickiest of all construction sites for Fred Vasseur. Longtime Ferrari designer Aldo Costa, who abseiled down to Mercedes in 2012, has said: “At Ferrari you are under constant scrutiny. The media puts pressure, the tifosi puts pressure, the shareholders put pressure, the barista puts pressure where you drink an espresso in the morning.”

The pressure from outside, from the high expectations of the Tifosi and from a merciless press, that’s one thing. The other is internal pressure. It needs a clear line from Ferrari President John Elkann, it needs Benedetto Vigna as Ferrari CEO who does not interfere in the affairs of the GP racing team. On the thin ice of the Italian media landscape, statements from the management floor must not produce the slightest crack.

The most important Ferrari records

Drivers’ World Championship (15)
Alberto Ascari 1952 and 1953
Juan Manuel Fangio 1956
Mike Hawthorn 1958
Phil Hill 1961
John Surtees 1964
Niki Lauda in 1975 and 1977
Jody Scheckter 1979
Michael Schumacher 2000 to 2004
Kimi Räikkönen 2007

Constructor’s Cups (16)
1961
1964
1975
1976
1977
1979
1982
1983
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2007
2008

Grand Prix Appearances (1052)

Pole-Positions (242)

Fastest race laps (259)

Siege (242)

Double wins (85)

Triple wins (8)

Quadruple wins (2)

Consecutive wins (14)
From Switzerland 1952 to Switzerland 1953

Podiums (798)

Championship points (9266)

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