While McLaren made merry in Miami and is well in control of the constructors’ championship, Ferrari is somehow back in the doldrums.
Okay, perhaps we exaggerate. Somewhat. It isn’t as if Ferrari is down the back end of the field, making up the numbers. Then again, when you have the cultural capital (contextually speaking) that the famed Italian team has, the lower end of the top ten might as well be stone dead last in the eyes of the ever-demanding Tifosi. Lest we forget, Ferrari has not lifted a championship trophy since back in 2008. And even then, it was only the constructor’s title, too. As it were, Kimi Raikkonen, in 2007, remains the last driver to win for the Scuderia, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to change anytime soon.
And thus, a genuine perplexity is born. Why is it that over the last decade, Mercedes was able to hit the hybrid sweet spot in 2014, Red Bull was able to dominate the return of ground-effect cars, and now McLaren, too, has returned to the summit of the sport. And all the while, Ferrari has trudged through every season, claiming that the next one will be better. So why exactly have they failed, quite spectacularly, to regain the glory days?
It certainly could not be a lack of driver talent. Since Raikkonen’s win in 2007, Ferrari has employed nearly every generational (F1-wise) driver. Fernando Alonso joined and got close to a title a few times but ultimately left empty-handed. Seb Vettel joined with great expectations of emulating his hero Michael Schumacher, but the partnership fizzled and ultimately died a disappointing death. The signing of Charles Leclerc was a clear indication that the Monaco-born driver was the team’s future. But nearly six years later, Leclerc hasn’t come anywhere near to being a serious championship contender. Enter Lewis Hamilton. Surely, the seven-time champion can create some magic at the Scuderia. If he can pull a rabbit out of a hat, now would be a good time to do it. Sir LH’s debut in red has been anything but spectacular. Even if you grant some leeway for adjustment to a new car and environment, someone of Hamilton’s calibre should be in a much better position than qualifying outside of the top 10. So, it’s not a lack of ability behind the wheel, then.
The problem certainly isn’t money either. Before the introduction of the cost-cap, Ferrari was well-positioned to spend as much dosh as they wanted. What with the special bonus they get from the FIA and all. Money has never been an object for Ferrari. But perhaps there is some smoke here. Rule changes in F1 are part and parcel of the sport. One of the biggest areas that has been curtailed over the years is testing. An area where Ferrari, and admittedly others, pounded around circuits like Fiorano and Mugello nearly 24/7 and without restriction. Could this be part of the problem? Is it the fact that Ferrari simply has not been able to adapt to the new way of solving fundamental car problems that has held them back? But surely this can’t be the case. They have a nifty wind tunnel and the expertise, or do they?
The question is, has there been enough of a cultural mindset change in the Ferrari factory to truly embrace the evolving landscape of F1? It doesn’t seem so. Ferrari remains majority Italian and still resistant to stepping outside of their comfort zone. Which is why the appointment of Fred Vasseur, a Frenchman from outside the organisation, was such a surprise. With Vasseur being capped as team principal, it seemed like Ferrari had finally realised that things needed to change. But they didn’t. Not enough anyway. So many years later, Ferrari is still making the same fundamental errors – this weekend’s exchange between Hamilton and the pitwall being the latest in a long and embarrassing list of missteps.
In many ways, Ferrari is reminiscent of the South African cricket team. Chock-full of great talent but with some type of invisible barrier keeping them from greatness. No, I am not referring to the chokers tag. But just maybe there needs to be a complete change of culture, a change to how everything is done, a blank slate. If not, it is difficult to see how Ferrari will climb back to the top.
