F1 News
Pressure on Vasseur increases: Italian media showcase demand for success
- Ludo van Denderen
An employee of Scuderia Ferrari is always under immense pressure: the team's fans and the Italian media expect world titles every year - and if not, at least several Grand Prix victories. In the run-up to the new season, the authoritative Gazzetta dello Sport is already increasing the pressure, especially towards team boss Frederic Vasseur: "Ferrari must start winning Grands Prix again", is the message in bold letters.
In 2022, the Italian team briefly tasted success when Charles Leclerc competed for wins in the first half of the year. This was followed by a massive collapse. Fred Vasseur came in over a year ago to bring Ferrari back to the absolute top. With the Frenchman at the helm, this failed to materialise, although they won the race in Singapore. The only team outside of Red Bull to win a race in 2023.
Vasseur must now perform
Yet there was no criticism of Vasseur in the Italian media: it was realised that the team boss, who came over from Alfa Romeo, needed time to find his place within the organisation and initiate change processes. But the honeymoon period is apparently over, as Italy's leading sports newspaper, the Gazzetta dello Sport, warns Vasseur ahead of the 2024 F1 season.
"There could [in 2023] still be the excuse that the Frenchman did not have his signature under the project, but for 'his' team, it is different now," states the pink newspaper. "With that comes responsibility. So 2024 will be a key year for Vasseur, on which his future at the Prancing Horse depends."
The Gazzetta praises how Vasseur works internally and externally but says that he does lead "the most important team" in the world. And so, the newspaper believes, "Ferrari needs to start winning Grands Prix again, like the series the team had in 2022, and demonstrate that they are more competitive against Red Bull during the championship. That is the least you can expect, looking at president John Elkann's ambition, although his rivals remain favourites for the title."