Ferrari are in 'CRISIS' and Vasseur must 'work more, talk less', says ex-F1 race winner
Ferrari are in 'CRISIS' and Vasseur must 'work more, talk less', says ex-F1 race winner
Former Ferrari driver René Arnoux believes that the team is in "crisis" and that new team principal Frédéric Vasseur should "work a lot and talk little" in order to rectify their problems.
The Scuderia were widely expected to be Red Bull's closest challengers this season after finishing second in last year's constructors' championship, but a combination of poor reliability and middling pace means the team sits fourth in the standings after the opening two rounds of the campaign.
Charles Leclerc was running in third in Bahrain before retiring due to a mechanical failure, but he and team-mate Carlos Sainz were further down the order in Saudi Arabia, finishing a lowly seventh and sixth respectively as Red Bull secured a second consecutive one-two victory.
For Arnoux, who spent two full seasons with Ferrari in the mid-1980s, believes the heavy tyre wear the SF-23 suffers from is significantly hampering its performance.
READ MORE: Russell calls on FIA to apply 'common sense' after Saudi Arabian controversies
Results are worrying
"Perhaps the car was built better last year, although it wasn't reliable," he said, as per Gazzetta dello Sport. "Now it's not competitive, it doesn't have a great chassis, it eats up the tyres. The results are worrying. There's a lot to work on.
"Something must be done, because an extraordinary brand like Ferrari cannot afford to go like this."
The Frenchman also believes that Vasseur, known for his laidback, affable personality in the paddock, must recognise the severity of the situation swiftly.
"He has to recognise that he's in a moment of crisis," Arnoux explained. "So work a lot and talk little. When things get better, he can do the interviews. He has one advantage: having worked in various teams, he knows many people. If he has identified valuable figures, he must bring them to Ferrari, because you need to change to improve. To win again."
Arnoux doubled down on his belief that Ferrari need new technical personnel in order to compete at the front in F1.
"The people need to change," Arnoux added. "Companies are made by people, the results depend on people. There is a lack of competent people involved in the concept of the car."
READ MORE: Major Ferrari weekend strategy detail MAGNIFIES Maranello misery
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Chinese Grand Prix practice red flagged after BIZARRE fire
- 11 minutes ago
F1 Chinese Grand Prix weather forecast - latest today from Shanghai
- 47 minutes ago
Hamilton opens up on Wolff talks over Ferrari move as Verstappen SLAMS F1 decision - GPFans F1 Recap
- Today 00:27
F1 Sprint Qualifying Today: Chinese Grand Prix 2024 start times, schedule and TV
- Yesterday 23:27
Marko suggests 'exciting' move to REPLACE Ricciardo
- Yesterday 22:57
F1 Practice Today: Chinese Grand Prix 2024 start times, schedule and TV
- Yesterday 22:27
Related news
Hamilton to open Wolff talks at Mercedes amid Ferrari F1 move uncertainty
Hamilton WARNED by Ferrari chief over performance levels
Brundle issues WARNING to 'under pressure' Ferrari star
F1 pundit says SHOCK team have ‘broken the back’ of rivals
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860