Miami served up yet one more bitter tablet for Ferrari followers, who as soon as once more needed to abdomen a lacklustre efficiency dressed up with post-race feedback from Frederic Vasseur that hardly mirrored actuality. “The chef,” because the Ferrari devoted have dubbed him, appears decided to maintain serving poorly ready dishes whereas persevering with to current them as gourmand delicacies. However style—not like phrases—is trustworthy, and the target fact from the observe doesn’t lie.
Driver administration at Ferrari: the standard mess, adequate for Fred Vasseur
The Workforce Principal claimed the staff’s dealing with of its drivers was “good.” But Lewis Hamilton remained caught behind Charles Leclerc for a number of laps after the pit cease, shedding round 1.5 seconds to Andrea Kimi Antonelli throughout a vital section of the race when his medium tyres have been at their finest. The swap ought to have occurred instantly—or higher but, been a part of the race technique from the beginning. The delayed name damage each drivers’ tempo and instantly affected their competitiveness within the ultimate phases.
Even Lewis Hamilton himself, each over staff radio and later with a cooler head, identified the flawed execution. Charles Leclerc, for his half, prevented talking a lot over the radio to forestall his frustration from being broadcast stay. A lot for “every thing was good”—this was extra like groping at the hours of darkness whereas the stopwatch informed a really totally different story.
The automotive? SF-25, a damaged promise
In line with Fred Vasseur, Ferrari’s race tempo was in step with Mercedes and Crimson Bull. However actuality paints one other image: greater than 57 seconds behind the winner and over 20 seconds adrift of the highest Mercedes and Crimson Bull. For about ten laps, the SF-25 regarded respectable. However the remainder of the race rapidly dispelled that phantasm. You may’t choose a 57-lap race primarily based on one quick stint—particularly not within the closing laps, when others are managing tyres and gas.
In the meantime, Charles Leclerc continues to state that he’s extracting every thing he can from the automotive, and that with out actual updates, there’s no approach ahead. “We’re getting probably the most out of it,” he retains repeating—a sentiment in stark distinction with the phrases of Ferrari’s staff principal, who insists on downplaying the problem and speaking about some legendary “untapped potential.”
When advertising and marketing drives the narrative
At this level, what we’re witnessing appears much less like a failed technical plan and extra like a rigorously crafted communications technique, the place picture issues greater than outcomes. Nobody dares admit that the venture has failed—sponsors have to be reassured, and the following spherical of merchandise should nonetheless be bought to loyal followers who at all times help the purple automobiles.
However true Ferrari followers, who follow the staff even in onerous occasions, deserve honesty—not statements that don’t have any hyperlink to the info. The parable that Ferrari is near being the second-best staff should finish. Persevering with to promote hopes which might be repeatedly shattered by info not solely fails to ship outcomes—it drives away supporters who have been misled by daring predictions and triumphant declarations made at first of the season, when the outcomes have been nonetheless zero.