Cesare Fiorio: "Ferrari has to improve in high-speed corners, strategists need creativity"

Ferrari has to make the winter constructive, to add that little extra needed to surpass the Mercedes that slipped away by a hair and to catch up with the Red Bull, which has been elusive for over two years. Cesare Fiorio speaks about this topic, having led Ferrari from 1989 to 1991, achieving 26 podiums and 9 victories in 36 direct GPs, with Alain Prost coming within just 7 points of Ayrton Senna and the 1990 Formula 1 title.

Here is his full interview for the Italian daily newspaper La Gazzetta dello sport:

How do you judge the 2024 season, with the team in third place and Charles Leclerc in fifth?

“It’s been quite challenging, at least in terms of results. But overall, Ferrari has confirmed having top-notch personnel, very skilled mechanics, technicians, and highly valuable engineers. That’s what it takes to return to maximum competitiveness as soon as possible.”

What are your impressions of the two drivers?

“They made a few too many mistakes. But both of them are very fast. One, Leclerc, is better in qualifying, faster than his teammate, even though we’re talking about tenths, not half a second. The other, Sainz, is overall more skillful in managing the race.”

Charles Leclerc is heading towards a long renewal…

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“I think it’s a good move because, in addition to speed and skill, he is adding the ability to limit the number of mistakes. Until recently, he made too many. But as it was normal: Max Verstappen is his contemporary, but even he made a lot of mistakes in the early years. Now Charles Leclerc is heading towards the maturity that Max already has and that Lewis Hamilton also possesses.”

How do you evaluate Frédéric Vasseur’s first season as the team principal?

“He is undoubtedly a great professional, someone who knows his job very well because he has been doing it practically forever. In Formula 1, his track record in terms of results is not exceptional, and overall, he hasn’t done any better than Binotto. But he is a great professional, and the real results of his work will be seen in 2024.”

What needs to be done to get back to the front?

“Compared to Mercedes, a good job has been done, as they were almost caught up. And in general, I see that behind Red Bull, several teams are at the same level. The problem is obviously Red Bull. It has always been like this in F1, with periods of more or less absolute dominance. But they have never lasted forever.”

So, what should Ferrari do?

“It seems to me that on the engine front, they don’t need anything. As for aerodynamics, they will need to work to solve the disorientation experienced in fast corners. Additionally, there will be a need for a step up in terms of strategies. Some mistakes have been seen. Competence and promptness will be needed on the pit wall, on the track, not in Maranello. More creativity, more insights are needed to avoid trailing behind the decisions of other teams.”