Ferrari, a nightmare Monza
There is no doubt that the many fans of Ferrari were definitely disappointed by the performance of the Red in the home race of Monza. The second ADUO update, combined with the great enthusiasm surrounding Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, raised hopes for a better haul than the 8 points earned over the Italian weekend by Frederic Vasseur’s men.
Instead, little or nothing worked the right way, with the aggravating factor that the well-known chronic engine and energy management problems – highlighted by the Monza track – were compounded by a weekend management far from optimal.
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The imperfect execution shown in qualifying was then added to by the battle at the first chicane between Leclerc and Hamilton, poorly digested by the Englishman who repeatedly emphasized in interviews all his frustration over the lack of engagement rules and the imperfect communication within the team.
And to think that just a few days before Monza, Vasseur had called the drivers in a call to find common ground after the radio controversies in the Netherlands…
Is Vasseur back on the brink?
The English of The Race highlighted how “well-informed sources within the paddock suggest that what happened at Monza – the Ferrari disaster and Antonelli winning the hearts of fans with a Mercedes – was not well received by the top management of the Prancing Horse“.
We recall that both president John Elkann and CEO Benedetto Vigna were present on Sunday at the Autodrome. The British outlet hinted that what happened could “trigger a review of Vasseur’s position” and that much remains to be explored about the key decisions made this season. In the spotlight is a certain resignation regarding the change of the starting procedure, the initial choice to prioritize aerodynamics over the power unit, and finally the absence of an internal code among the drivers that ended up not maximizing the title chances. The possible names on the horizon for a potential replacement of Vasseur are well known: Antonello Coletta and Christian Horner.
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And even today’s edition of Corriere della Sera was on the same line, in an article by Daniele Dallera it reads: “In Maranello and especially in Turin they are thinking about it. […] It can’t go on like this. Fred Vasseur has understood it too […], despite a recently renewed contract […], his future as head is uncertain. In Maranello there are many pressures, coming from above, that could trigger the cut. Not immediately, it must be prepared. But Monza could have revolutionary effects”. The Milanese daily therefore spoke of a possible “major turning point at Ferrari” and finally emphasized: “The Plan B beyond the French manager does not exist. […] Vasseur’s Ferrari is under observation. From Elkann’s Ferrari that cannot continue to pretend nothing is happening”.
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