Are Ferrari Beckoning A New Era?
After being stuck in a slump over the past couple of years, Ferrari is making changes to their team that some of us weren't expecting. Driver signings, new faces joining them in Maranello and a team principal pushing the team forward. These changes could have a huge impact on the team. But is this Ferrari beckoning a new era as they prepare to fight at the front again?
Signing Lewis Hamilton
Arguably the biggest driver move in F1 history, and if you think that's a bit too much, then let's say recent history. When Ferrari signed Lewis Hamilton, it sent the F1 world into chaos. What had Ferrari offered him to see him part with the team that helped him to six world championships? What assurances had they given him? Because there had to be something more than the promise of driving with the most historic and iconic team in Formula One. And I'm still wondering what those things were.
Some people have questioned Ferrari's decision to sign Hamilton, who will be forty when he joins the team. He's currently the second oldest driver on the grid after Fernando Alonso. Shouldn't they be looking for someone younger? Planning out the future of the team? But Ferrari had a vision when signing Hamilton and one that I can understand. Yes, it's been nearly three seasons since Hamilton had his last win but the mentality that he brings to the team is one that Ferrari has been severely lacking. Vassuer's made it clear that he wants the seven-time world champion to push the team and demand better from them.
Hamilton doesn't just bring his name and racing credentials to the team but a mindset shift that Ferrari needs. Hamilton not only demands the best from those around him but also himself. He'll look at what he could have done better after a bad race and then turn to the team. And even when things are going his way, he wants better. Complacency is not something that Hamilton wants and it's not something he would accept from his team.
I'm far from thinking that Hamilton is past it as a driver. The 2023 season is the best example of what he's able to do, even with a weaker car. He sealed P3 in the WDC behind both Red Bull drivers. I think we can all agree that the Mercedes car was not the second fastest on the grid, especially when the year ended. Given half the chance in Ferrari, I think we'll see him fly again but time will tell.
New Faces to the Team
Hamilton isn't the only big signing that Ferrari wants though. Everyone knows that it's not just the drivers that will lead you to a championship. You have to have a team of people working behind the scenes that lets everything flow cohesively. It looks like Ferrari wants to build on the team they have since they've recently announced that Jerome D'Ambrosia and Lois Serra will be joining them from Mercedes.
D'Ambrosio is a former racing driver who only joined the Silver Arrows in 2023, becoming their Driver Development Director. It's a surprise that he would want to leave the team so soon after joining but Ferrari has given him the role of Deputy Team Principal and there was no way anyone could turn down an offer like that. Serra, on the other hand, has a much longer history with Mercedes. He started working for them over 11 years ago and is currently their Performance Director. When he joins Ferrari later in the year though, he'll be the Head of Chassis Performance. Mercedes losing some of their staff members, especially newer ones, is a story for a different day but Ferrari's intentions are clear here: they want to hire the best and they don't mind looking outside of Maranello to bring that talent in. They know that things need to change and sometimes that includes having a fresh set of eyes on how things are running.
A Competitive & Reliable Car
A solid team and a strong driver lineup are great but you also need a competitive and reliable car. Ferrari has been a team with their fair share of reliability woes in recent times and whilst we might only be six races in, those issues haven't reared their ugly head just yet. The package overall this year has been an improvement compared to 2023. They look like they're the second-fastest car on the grid. On race day, Verstappen's Red Bull is still at least a dozen seconds ahead. Qualifying tells a slightly different story though, with the Ferrari giving the Red Bull a good run for its money. The upgrades McLaren brought to Miami gave them the advantage over Leclerc and Sainz. We definitely shouldn't underestimate those upgrades after Norris took his first win in Miami. Ferrari has been bringing their own upgrades though and the win at Monaco will definitely help raise morale. Especially since they've managed to close the gap to Red Bull in the Constructors' Championship. Ferrari's development race will continue throughout the year but the signs are looking good so far.
Strategies & Pitstops - Sorting Out the "Small" Things
If there was something that got picked up during Mattia Binotto's last season with the Italian outfit, it was the horrendous strategies that the drivers had to contend with. There were too many races where we would hear Carlos Sainz trying to work out a better strategy. There was limited accountability taken for these awful strategy calls and it began to feel like Ferrari wasn't seeing the same problems that anyone else was. I think it's safe to say that their strategy calls have gotten a lot better. And whilst we still joke about them going to plan D 10 laps into a race, it's not filling me with the same panic. There'll always be room for improvement but it doesn't seem to be the talking point for the team after every race weekend.
Let's add to the fact that their pitstops keep improving. I don't think there was a team, other than Red Bull, who didn't struggle when the new 18-inch tyres came in. They were larger and heavier which meant that the pitstop crews couldn't rely on muscle memory straight off the bat. It was going to take a bit of time for the teams to put in the sub-two-second pitstops again. It's an area that Ferrari hasn't opted to neglect with them clocking in the fastest pitstop time out in Miami. Yep. They managed to beat the mighty Red Bull pit crew.
Strategies and pitstops don't always seem as important as a driver lineup or a fast car but they can make or break a race. Kick Sauber has had an awful time with their pitstops this season, leaving their drivers nowhere near the points. It's these "small things" that let the team maximise what their car and drivers can produce. Ferrari wants to be a team that is right at the front of the field again and they know that without tightening up these areas, they won't be able to do it.
Fred Vasseur
I couldn't talk about all of the changes being made at Ferrari without mentioning the one that has had the biggest impact: the signing of Fred Vasseur as Team Principal. I wasn't quite sure what Ferrari had planned when they had first announced that Vassuer would take over from Binotto. Their personalities could not seem more different on the grid. Vassuer has always been a big personality, happy to make fun of himself and prank his drivers. However, that doesn't take away from how hardworking he is and his ability to draw out the best from the people around him. Binotto was a little more quiet though, airing on the reserved side during his interviews.
I wasn't quite sure how well Vassuer would fit into the Ferrari eco-system but I'm more than happy to be proved wrong. Vassuer was the tonic this team needed. Of course, the board would have had a hand in the signing of Hamilton but there has to be something said of the draw the seven-time world champion felt to working with his old GP2 team boss again. A man he can trust. A man that he has a proven track record with. A man who doesn't take himself too seriously but can still get results.
Vassuer isn't just bringing signings to the team though. He's brought an attitude change along with him. A breath of fresh air that the Scuderia needed. Maybe it's wishful thinking but to me, it looks like Ferrari is carrying themselves that little bit better this year. Lighter. The drive was always there but there's a freshness about them. Like they know they are on the right track. Like they know they're on the road to a WDC slowly.
I think most people would agree that having Ferrari back at the front of the field can only be a good thing for the sport. So, let's hope that this is what all these changes are building towards.