F1, Ferrari: Gian Carlo Minardi gives verdict on top management changes

In a recent interview for Newsf1.it, Gian Carlo Minardi, the founder and managing director of the now-defunct Minardi Formula One team, was asked about the big changes at the top of Ferrari’s F1 Racing Division and admitted that he was not completely convinced that it was the best decision made by the senior management.

The big topic of discussion for the winter break between the 2022 and 2023 Formula 1 seasons is undoubtedly the change at the top of Ferrari: Mattia Binotto left his position as Team Principal after four seasons, and Frédéric Vasseur, who will have the task of reorganizing the structure of the Maranello team and eliminate the many mistakes that were seen in the past season. In a lengthy interview for Newsf1.it, Gian Carlo Minardi also shared his thoughts on the subject, partially criticizing the decision made by John Elkann and Benedetto Vigna to opt once again for a change at the top.

“It is a long and complicated discussion.” – began Gian Carlo Minardi – “I defended Mattia Binotto because I believe in continuity. Today Ferrari finds itself battling against Red Bull and Mercedes, two teams that have enjoyed a certain stability for over ten years and have grown over time, becoming almost unbeatable. […] This continuity has been lacking in recent years at Ferrari and there has been no sporting evolution. Jean Todt, the most successful Team Principal in his history, arrived in 1992 and won in 2000. This should make us reflect: […] a winning team is not built overnight and in F1 the one who wins always finds the best combination between driver and car. I take a step back: we have forgotten 2019, 2020 and 2021, in which Ferrari was behind by eight or nine tenths in qualifying and sometimes finished one lap behind the winner. The transition from 2021 to 2022 was a huge technical and quality leap, which highlighted other critical issues.” – Gian Carlo Minardi explained.

According to the manager from Faenza, the change at the top of the Maranello team risks slowing down the recent progress: “These problems cannot be solved by snapping your fingers and changing a single person. It takes work that leads to taking another step and eliminating the errors we have seen. I hoped that this step forward would be as big as the one made between 2021 and 2022, but this can only be done through continuity and the necessary organizational changes. By changing the team principal, we start all over again. I believe and hope that certain foundations for development and organizational changes for 2023 have already been launched, and therefore that the transition from Mattia Binotto to Fred Vasseur will be painless. If I had been the President of Ferrari, I would have supported Mattia Binotto, perhaps through additions to departments that have experienced critical issues, such as the engine, the chassis, the drivers or the mechanics. […]“ – the Italian managed continued.

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“As fans, we all need to see a competitive Ferrari and Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz at the top.” – Gian Carlo Minardi admitted – “Fred Vasseur hasn’t shown striking things up to now, even if he has been successful in the minor series, where it is however easier. His time at Sauber doesn’t seem exciting to me, but it’s difficult to give an opinion because there are also budget and staff issues. We wish him good luck. I believe I have exposed the reality of the facts, then history will tell us if the results will be positive. In that case, I will be the first to be happy.” – he concluded.