While Max Verstappen and Lando Norris are battling for the drivers’ title, Scuderia Ferrari is quietly positioning itself to claim the constructors’ crown, a feat it hasn’t achieved since 2008.
Perhaps there is a bit of Descartes in Fred Vasseur, who, without saying a word, seems to have adopted one of the French philosopher’s maxims, “Larvatus prodeo”, or “I advance masked”, from the 16th century. This is the approach the French boss has taken as he edges closer to the goal he set for himself when he signed with Scuderia two years ago.
Quietly, Ferrari has returned to the path of the world championship, which has eluded Maranello for over fifteen years (since 2008). After the years of missteps following the departures of Jean Todt (2009) and Stefano Domenicali (2014), which gave the impression that Scuderia was always making mistakes, it is now in sight of a 17th title.
“For us, from the beginning of the season, it was clear that Ferrari would be our main competitors,” acknowledges Lando Norris (McLaren). “But it was only after the summer break and the loss of performance from Red Bull that it became evident that the Championship would be played with them.” In the first ten races of the year, Ferrari is the second team in terms of points scored (270 pts behind Red Bull, which scored 330). And in the next ten, it is still Scuderia that comes in second place with… 267 points (behind McLaren with 329).
This impressive consistency shows how much the Italian team has stabilized and calmed down in two years. “You can feel that everything has changed in the team,” says Charles Leclerc. “All the cogs seem to be finding their place. First, there’s Ravin” (Jain, the head of strategy at Maranello) “who, with his team, is doing a great job. And then there’s Fred” (Vasseur). “He understood that he could use the passion of the guys in the factory to motivate them and make them work more. But as he is, on a professional level, very calm and without emotion, he also serves as a catalyst when it’s necessary to calm the troops.”
Frédéric Vasseur on the passion surrounding Scuderia: “With Ferrari, everything is multiplied tenfold”
When the improvements made in Barcelona didn’t work, there was no panic. The team took the time to understand what wasn’t working in order to correct the mistakes made and set up the current car. When the FIA validated McLaren’s flexible front wing in the Netherlands (end of August), Maranello worked on its version, which was installed in Austin.
Similarly, when the Monegasque won in Monza (1st September), the French boss refused to organize a big party, arguing that they needed to prepare for Baku. “Since their success in Monza, it’s clear that their car has become very fast,” praised Oscar Piastri, the other McLaren driver.
By winning back-to-back in Austin (Leclerc) and Mexico (Sainz), the prospect of the title becomes more and more real. When asked about the subject, Leclerc responds: “The Championship? We don’t think about it. In the team, we never talk about it. We focus on the next race. But we must take advantage of the current momentum” (six personal podiums in the last seven GPs and three team victories in the last five races).
However, during the conversation, he lets a bit of his own passion show. “Winning the constructors’ title would be something huge,” he concludes with a smile. “Especially after all these years of drought.” Fred Vasseur can no longer hide. His next driver at Ferrari has noticed. “I’m very interested in my future,” Lewis Hamilton joked when asked about Ferrari. “And I’m very impressed by the work of McLaren and especially Ferrari.” Good thing, he’ll be driving one next year…
