Rumors

Vasseur busy 'creating allies': 'Best friend Waché making move to Ferrari'

4 August 2023 at 12:39
Last update 4 August 2023 at 13:54
  • GPblog.com

Frederic Vasseur made it clear in his first weeks at Ferrari this year that they are definitely also looking across the border to bring new personnel to Maranello. Big names have not yet been announced and the search may not be as smooth as hoped, as the Italian formation has reportedly been told 'no' on several occasions. Still, there is a thought behind the way and the people Ferrari is trying to attract.

Cultivating allies

Indeed, F1 journalist Michael Schmidt hints to Auto, Motor und Sport that Vasseur is now doing what Jean Todt did years ago which made him very successful. The Ferrari of the time took over employees from other teams, hoping that "friends" of this staff could also be persuaded to make the move to Maranello.

"He [Vasseur] is on this to create allies. He has to have those outside the team, because there is not enough networking within his own ranks yet. Mercedes' performance director Loïc Serra is reportedly making the move to Ferrari from 2025. Serra is the best friend of Pierre Waché, Red Bull's technical director. The two talk for hours together in the paddock, despite being competitors," Schmidt said. Serra was also linked to Ferrari by several Italian media in June.

This is just one example, but in this way Vasseur would thus like to ensure that Ferrari can eventually fight for the world title structurally again. " This will not happen overnight, but slowly but surely Vasseur's stamp is becoming more visible," said the usually well-informed German journalist.

'Waché refused offer'

Several rumours circulated earlier this season that Ferrari had made an attempt to lure Waché into a switch. However, the 48-year-old Frenchman - who may work more in the background within Red Bull, but is labelled as very essential to its current success - thanked. Red Bull is confident of a longer stay for Waché, but so Vasseur now looks like he might intervene.