A former Ferrari chairman has blasted the lack of leadership at his old team amid their struggles. It has been a difficult start to the new Formula 1 season for the Scuderia who find themselves already in danger of being cut adrift of leaders McLaren.
Ferrari were their closest challengers last year and pushed them all the way to the final race of 24. But this year they look a long way off the pace of the defending champions, with Charles Leclerc getting what he can out of their car and Lewis Hamilton struggling to adapt.
Team principal Frederic Vasseur has largely been praised for his impact since he accepted one of the most pressure-filled roles in the F1 paddock. But as his team finds itself in a lull, one of his predecessors has stuck the boot in.
Luca di Montezemolo is a legendary figure at Ferrari having worked as founder Enzo Ferrari’s assistant in the 1970s and later went on to become chairman and president of the company.
Speaking to Sky Italy about his old team’s struggles, he said: “This is a team that at certain times lacks a leader, lacks leadership in the broader sense. Anyway, I am happy that Leclerc starts from the second [now first, at the Bahrain Grand Prix] row but the race is a different story.”
Di Montezemolo also made a brief appearance on Martin Brundle’s pre-race grid walk, but was unable to say much as he was in conversation with FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem at the time. “Of course, my heart is still red,” he was able to say before he was ushered on.
It is not the first time the Italian has criticised Ferrari in that particular way. In December 2022, before Vasseur took charge, Di Montezemolo told media in his homeland: “I’m sorry about the situation at Ferrari and I’m worried.
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“In these moments, since I really care about Ferrari, I prefer not to comment other than to note that it seems to me to be a company without a leader.”
Ferrari is the most successful team in F1 history but recent times have not been kind to the Prancing Horse. They have not won the title since 2008 when Di Montezemolo was still in a position of power at Maranello and he feels that, in the times since, it has become “a team without a soul”.
“Coming back is an emotion because ten years is a long time, and also because I hope to bring good luck to Ferrari, which really needs it right now,” he told Italian TV station TG1.
“How do I feel as a fan? Sad because I see a team without a soul. Ferrari is passion, Ferrari is working day and night, Ferrari is never giving up. And I am also a little angry because I was hoping that at least this year we would see a truly competitive car from the start.”
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