Parc Ferme doesn’t usually comment on Scuderia Ferrari in this column. That avenue of pleasure is left to GrandPrix247’s Red Mist, who has a more profound understanding of the history and politics of Maranello.
However, a small but subtle observation made before FP1 for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix became significant after what transpired, or rather, didn’t, in Brazil.
You don’t often see Bernie Ecclestone at a Grand Prix these days. However, he was in the pit lane on Friday morning, cornering Fred Vasseur
I know this because the Sky Sports F1 feed caught their exchange on camera. The conversation wasn’t lengthy, but it was revealing.
Nothing to see here
I’m talking body language, of course. Fred wore the greeting expression of someone who didn’t want to chat but also couldn’t offend. Meanwhile, Bernie fixed his piercing gaze on his eyes, grabbed him by both elbows, and said a few words.
He then stepped back with his palms held open while clearly asking Fred a question. Body language suggested it was along the lines of “WTF Fred…?”
Fred, noticing the camera on them, smiled weakly. Not wanting the media lip readers seeing anything, the “Old Renard” repositioned himself with his back to the camera, in front of Bernie.
Simple solutions for complex problems
The follow-up question could have been anything from “why haven’t you sorted this shitshow”, to “why haven’t you replaced Hamilton with Bearman?”
For sure, it was this level of potential PR discomfort. As it turned out, either question was valid; the Ferrari F1 team was on the verge of a meltdown in Brazil.
Whilst a double DNF was not entirely the drivers' fault, the optics were not helped by Hamilton being dumped out of qualifying in Q3; or sleepwalking into Franco Colapinto on the straight in the main race.
In contrast, across the other side of the world, Ferrari was celebrating lifting the WEC crown in Bahrain.
It’s them, not us, or me…
Instead of focusing on this happy event, Ferrari Chairman and CEO John Elkann used it to compare and contrast it with the Formula 1 team’s woes.
Paraphrasing the message it was, “See, our engineers build good cars, it’s the drivers that are at fault…”
For those new to F1 this kind of statement is a time-honoured Ferrari tradition. It’s called throwing the pilots under the bus, they have produced to protect the brand.
Presumably, this was Elkann’s way of deflecting his part in the problem. However, his actions have only served to underline them.
Confused
Parc Ferme has no doubt that the Ferrari engineers are first-rate. However, the reality is that the SF25 they have produced either doesn’t work or they don’t understand it. Based on the performance roller coaster ride, my money is on the latter.
Meanwhile, both drivers have produced superlative results this season that, at times, have even surprised themselves, especially Charles Leclerc, who has dragged the recalcitrant ‘bus’ onto the podium and the front row of the grid on numerous occasions.
The one man best positioned to fix Ferrari’s maladies is Vasseur. He understands that things are not resolved in front of the cameras and is prepared to move mountains, or even Bernie, to avert headlines that only weaken the team.
It’s about time he was given the support he deserves, John?
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