Ferrari faces an extended period of “crisis” after a “painful” start to the 2023 Formula 1 season, according to former president Luca di Montezemolo.
After a much-improved 2022, the Italian team has slipped back from Red Bull this year and into a three-way battle with Mercedes and Aston Martin.
In fact, Ferrari currently sit fourth in the Constructors’ Championship with 26 points, their lowest tally after three races since 2009.
“It’s painful for me, I’m sorry to see them like this,” Di Montezemolo was quoted by FormulaPassion.it.
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“I don’t think it’s a short-term crisis, it’s a question of rebuilding and we need to bring together the best technicians.”
While Ferrari installed Frenchman Fred Vasseur as team boss after splitting with his Swiss predecessor Mattia Binotto, a common criticism of the Scuderia in recent years is that the team has been “too Italian”.
And continuing his previous point, Di Montezemolo compared the situation now to when he overhauled the team in the 1990s.
“I brought in [Jean] Todt, [Stefano] Domenicali, [Ross] Brawn and [Rory] Byrne, [Michael] Schumacher came later,” he said. “There was also a serious crisis at first, but a team was built.
“But even if you start bringing in some technicians of different nationalities, you also have to change the culture in the company in the areas where it is needed.”
And the former Ferrari president was particularly perturbed by the bold statements by Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna at the launch.
“I found the triumphalist speeches in the presentation wrong,” said di Montezemolo, “I was expecting a car that evolved from last year.”
Certainly, it appears the hierarchy is listening…
“Profound changes are underway between the walls of Maranello, particularly in strengthening sporting activity on the track,” chairman John Elkann was quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport as telling shareholders in a letter.
“The desire to progress that our founder, Enzo Ferrari, had in his heart continues to keep Ferrari’s people humble and ambitious in shaping the future of the Prancing Horse.”