Inside Ferrari's Struggles: Andretti Challenges Vasseur's Leadership
Oct.13 - Mario Andretti has added his voice to growing concern about Ferrari's direction - while Ralf Schumacher thinks the fabled team's chronic underperformance defies logic.
Speaking at Il Festival dello Sport in Trento, 1978 world champion Andretti praised Charles Leclerc's talent but hinted that even the Monegasque driver may soon look elsewhere. "I'm a big fan of Leclerc," said the 85-year-old.
"If he really wanted to change teams one day, I'd take him to Cadillac straight away," said the American - the high-profile ambassador for the Cadillac team, which is preparing to join Formula 1 in 2026.
"But Ferrari is Ferrari," Andretti continued. "Sooner or later, this team will bounce back - they always have."
However, when asked directly if he was losing faith in team principal Frederic Vasseur, Andretti's answer was brief but telling. "Yes," he said.
Vasseur's position has come under renewed scrutiny despite a recent contract extension, with Ferrari still struggling to match the form of McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes.
Sky Deutschland pundit Ralf Schumacher expressed disbelief at how little progress has been made. "They have two excellent drivers, and the car, engine and transmission are all built under one roof," he said.
"Actually, all the prerequisites are there," said Schumacher, whose brother Michael is the most successful Ferrari driver of all time. "It's hard to understand where the problems lie."
"If you think about it, Ferrari spent the most money and ended up with the worst chassis," the German continued. "But Vasseur knows how to unite people and motivate the team.
"Ferrari is basically a bit of a powder keg - I understand it, there's a lot of frustration, and anything can happen quickly."
13 F1 Fan comments on “Inside Ferrari's Struggles: Andretti Challenges Vasseur's Leadership”
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You can unite people all you want but if they can’t produce the goods the only way is to replace them. They have two of the best drivers with almost identical times, how much proof do they need that there is a person or people in the team who can speak the speak but can’t do the job.Getting rid is a job for JE not Fred who will be seen as at best equal to the long term Ferrari weak links.Fred is in an impossible position.
They should learn from Red Bull
Jam tomorrow, and a rebound of the Ferrari share price
It's all about excellent technical people, a good plan, consistency and good leadership.
Toyota proofed that money can't buy you wins. Toyota had a budget of 1 Billion Euro back in the day and never won a GP.
To be fair they were getting closer before they pulled out
Tradition is likely part of the problem
They could try hiring a trans person to oversee the changes.
A new arrival could bring a fresh corporate culture
A new arrival could bring a fresh corporate culture
I must not extract the Michael,I must not.......
I think I read elsewhere that that one of the engineers has a very aggressive nature, he needs to go. Does anyone in Ferrari senior management have the balls to do it?
Get Horny in there , hes well used to employment tribunals
I thinkJE owns a large part of Chrysler 😼
Ah Chrysler 180, i paid £50 for one with 5 weeks mot in 85, those were the days,then off to the scrappy and got £35 for it, oh I am trying to control my emotions , but with a race weekend coping up, you just never know...!