Red Bull’s Christian Horner has expressed his belief that Ferrari is grappling with excessive external influence and needs to function more as a dedicated “race team” rather than a national institution.
Despite being the only team to defeat Red Bull this season, thanks to Carlos Sainz’s victory in the September Singapore Grand Prix, Ferrari has endured a 15-year championship drought in Formula 1. The team has witnessed multiple leadership changes over the years, from Stefano Domenicali to Marco Mattiacci, Maurizio Arrivabene to Mattia Binotto, with each transition introducing varied strategies and approaches.
In 2023, Fred Vasseur assumed the challenge of revitalizing Ferrari’s former glory. Horner, the longest-serving F1 team boss on the grid since 2005, contends that external influences have hindered Ferrari’s efforts over the years.
“I think the biggest problem for Ferrari is that it’s a national team,” explained Horner on the Eff One podcast. “It needs to get back to being a race team. It’s an Italian institution, and there’s probably too many people at the top end. Everybody has an input and has a say.”
Ferrari holds a unique and deeply ingrained status in Italy, serving as more than just a Formula 1 team; it is often regarded as a national symbol and a source of immense pride. The “Scuderia Ferrari” badge symbolizes Italian excellence, passion, and craftsmanship, fostering both a fanatical fanbase and a strong sense of national identity around the team’s success.
However, this intense scrutiny and pressure from the Italian media and public, while positive in some aspects, can become a double-edged sword. Horner suggests that this dynamic influences the team’s operations, creating a weight that does not exist at Red Bull.
“One of our strengths is that we move quickly, we make decisions and we stick to them,” added Horner. “And if we make the wrong decision, we change the decision. I think, for Ferrari, the newspapers have such an influence on what happens there. So it’s a lot of pressure, being at Ferrari.”
A year ago, after Ferrari’s decision to part ways with Mattia Binotto, Horner was reportedly approached by the manufacturer’s top brass, a move later confirmed by Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko. However, Horner declined the offer, likely deterred by the political turmoil surrounding Ferrari. Marko acknowledged that convincing Horner to remain with Red Bull took considerable effort and cost the team millions more.
