For Ferrari, a team with a uniquely rich history of success alongside equally-unique Italian pressures, the appointment of Frenchman Frederic Vasseur as team boss this year is seen as a step in the right direction. That’s the sentiment echoed by German motor racing legend and former F1 driver Hans-Joachim Stuck.
Reflecting on Ferrari’s up-and-mainly-down journey since the end of the Jean Todt era, which saw a series of exclusively Italian team bosses in red come and go with varying degrees of success, another Frenchman is back at the helm – Vasseur. Stuck points to his 2023 appointment as a pivotal moment. “Ferrari, of course, has made some mistakes in recent years,” Stuck told Eurosport. “But I’m still surprised that it is taking so long to get back to the front. I do not understand that. Many of the disappointments of the last few years are simply unworthy of Ferrari’s history,” he insists.
Stuck’s confidence in Vasseur, however, is palpable. “With Vasseur, the necessary amount of order is back. And it’s about time.”
Ferrari’s quest to reclaim its former glory has been a topic of intense discussion, especially given the team’s struggles to match up to the dominant forces of Red Bull and Mercedes in recent years. Despite some bright spots this season, including Carlos Sainz’s Singapore GP win, the gap remains significant. Yet, Stuck remains optimistic, drawing inspiration from McLaren’s recent resurgence. “McLaren is doing an excellent job, hats off to them,” he praises. “Such an improvement is particularly stimulating for Ferrari and Mercedes. Both of those teams simply have to do better.”
Ralf Schumacher, another prominent figure in the German motor racing world and younger brother of the legendary Michael Schumacher, shares Stuck’s view on Vasseur. “I also believe he needs time to change things,” Schumacher acknowledges. “He cannot do everything in six months.”
The conversation with Stuck then shifts to Mercedes and its own team boss, Toto Wolff. Amidst theories of Wolff’s disenchantment due to Mercedes’ own challenges versus Red Bull, Stuck offers a different perspective. “If you know Toto well, you know that he certainly doesn’t sleep well at the moment. He simply has to perform,” he says. “That’s not just because he represents Mercedes, but also because he’s a shareholder. So it’s about his own money as well.”
