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—in contrast to phrases—is trustworthy, and the target fact from the monitor doesn’t lie.
Driver administration at Ferrari: the same old mess, ok for Fred Vasseur
The Group Principal claimed the crew’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, dropping round 1.5 seconds to Andrea Kimi Antonelli throughout a vital section of the race when his medium tyres have been at their greatest. 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 last levels.
Even Lewis Hamilton himself, each over crew radio and later with a cooler head, identified the flawed execution. Charles Leclerc, for his half, averted talking a lot over the radio to stop his frustration from being broadcast reside. A lot for “every part was good”—this was extra like groping at the hours of darkness whereas the stopwatch informed a really completely different story.
The automotive? SF-25, a damaged promise
In accordance with Fred Vasseur, Ferrari’s race tempo was in step with Mercedes and Pink Bull. However actuality paints one other image: greater than 57 seconds behind the winner and over 20 seconds adrift of the highest Mercedes and Pink Bull. For about ten laps, the SF-25 regarded respectable. However the remainder of the race rapidly dispelled that phantasm. You may’t decide a 57-lap race primarily based on one quick stint—particularly not within the closing laps, when others are managing tyres and gasoline.
In the meantime, Charles Leclerc continues to state that he’s extracting every part he can from the automotive, and that with out actual updates, there’s no method ahead. “We’re getting essentially the most out of it,” he retains repeating—a sentiment in stark distinction with the phrases of Ferrari’s crew 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 seems 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 mission has failed—sponsors have to be reassured, and the subsequent spherical of merchandise should nonetheless be bought to loyal followers who all the time assist the purple vehicles.
However true Ferrari followers, who stick to the crew even in laborious occasions, deserve honesty—not statements that haven’t any hyperlink to the information. The parable that Ferrari is near being the second-best crew should finish. Persevering with to promote hopes which are 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 the beginning of the season, when the outcomes have been nonetheless zero.