Bernie Ecclestone explains why Fred Vassur is the right man to lead Ferrari

A policy without big promises
“Bahrain in any case will not change our season.” Frederic Vasseur, the new Ferrari team principal chosen by the managing director Benedetto Vigna and the president John Elkann to lead the Scuderia from Maranello after the resignation of Mattia Binotto, began his time with clear and honest expectations, i.e. without overreacting to proclamations, but at the some time not yet accepting the role of second force on the starting grid behind Red Bull. The answer given during the pre-season testing session on where Ferrari is at the moment in terms of its ‘strength’ on the track was significant. “We are certainly among the top ten,” joked Fred Vasseur, referring to the fact that there are just ten teams taking part in the Formula 1 championship.

According to Bernie Ecclestone he is the right man
Several Formula 1 paddock personalities have already expressed words of appreciation for Frederic Vasseur, defined as a direct manager with the right qualities to take on Jean Todt’s legacy with a view and bring Scuderia Ferrari back to the top of the sport after many years without any titles.

Even Bernie Ecclestone agrees that the choice of the Benedetto Vigna – John Elkann duo could really be the right one: “Ferrari needs someone who works without emotion, who makes clear and quick decisions and who doesn’t let himself be influenced by the fascinating but also dangerous atmosphere that you breathe in the team”, explained the British business magnate, in an interview for Sport1 magazine describing the approach of Frederic Vasseur.

Charles Leclerc – Carlos Sainz: Ferrari first
An issue that always generates great debate is that relating to the internal hierarchy among the Scuderia Ferrari drivers. Carlos Sainz was chosen by Mattia Binotto and arrived in Maranello without accepting a role of second driver in the support of Charles Leclerc, a situation which at a strategic level created quite a few embarrassment moments in 2022 for Ferrari which found itself on various occasions faced with a undefined hierarchy. This led to situations that divided critics and fans such as the finale stages of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone: Carlos Sainz won the race after the Spaniard was called back to the pits for a new set of soft tires when the Safety Car was deployed, unlike his Maranello teammate Charles Leclerc, who had to settle for fourth place as his old hard tires were not replaced and did not allow him to defend himself against the attack of Carlos Sainz, Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton.

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Reorganization of the pit wall: first signs
Compared to 2022, Ferrari will have a big change at the pit wall, namely the absence of Inaki Rueda and the full promotion of Ravin Jain as head of strategies. A first move by Frederic Vasseur aimed at streamlining and making the chain of command of the Ferrari pit wall more efficient.