Vettel: Marchionne was always giving us a lot of pressure

If anything, Marchionne's presence at the helm of the Scuderia showed a man with purpose and a clear vision of what he wanted from Ferrari as a racing team as well as concerns with regards to the future of Formula 1 in the Liberty Media era.

When he spoke, people listened.

For Vettel, a driver he respected highly, he insisted the team provide him with the best equipment possible and with that in hand the German was expected to deliver for the Scuderia. In other words, there was pressure to deliver on all fronts from the man at the top.

Ahead of the FIA's Prize Giving gala in St. Petersburg, reflecting on that sad time for Maranello, and indeed the sport, Vettel said, "Certainly it was a big loss. Obviously the day to day business continued, I think people knew what was their job and knew what to do."

"It wasn't easy for us and I think we tried to continue in the best way we could and tried to do our job. I think that's what he would have liked to see."

Vettel explained, "He was always giving us a lot of pressure but also there to help us and guide us, so it was a big loss but as a team we tried to respond and continue respecting him and his legacy and that's what we'll try to do going forward."

In fact, it was Marchionne who before he passed is said to have inked a deal to have Charles Leclerc replace Kimi Raikkonen, the aim was to ramp up the pressure on the number one driver who would, in turn, be forced to raise his game.

Marchionne died after surgical complications, on 25 July, three days after the German Grand Prix but by all accounts, his condition became terminal around 21 July, the day of qualifying for Hockenheim.

At that time, before that race, Vettel and Ferrari led the championship and one could hazard a guess that Marchionne would have died proud of his team and driver atop the standings, thankfully spared the implosion that followed.

He was instrumental in the promotion of 21-year-old Charles Leclerc to partner Vettel, reportedly inking a secret deal which ensured the Sauber rookie would replace 39-year-old Kimi Raikkonen next year, going against the team's long-standing driver policy of not hiring youngsters.

Marchionne was also keen to return the Alfa-Romeo brand to the pinnacle of the sport, opening the door to the foray by becoming title sponsor of Sauber, which includes a seat for a Ferrari junior with the team, hence Leclerc's year with the Swiss outfit, to be followed by Antonio Giovinazzi's rookie season with them next year.

Of his final months, Wall Street Journal reports, "His last known public appearance was on June 26, when he presented a Jeep Wrangler to military police in Rome. A video of that event shows him walking around unassisted and clapping with both hands, but later leaning on a podium while delivering prepared remarks. His breathing is laboured during the speech."

"Two days later on June 28, he had shoulder surgery in the Swiss hospital, according to people familiar with the matter. Fiat Chrysler acknowledged the shoulder surgery on July 5 for the first time in a statement provided upon request following Italian press reports, and said Mr. Marchionne was recovering without providing further details. Ferrari directors too were told about the operation on July 5."

"On July 21, FCA said that Mr. Marchionne wouldn’t be able to return to work after suffering complications from surgery and named Mike Manley as CEO. That was one day after Mr. Marchionne’s family told executives that his condition had seriously deteriorated."

On that day Ferrari announced that John Elkann was the company’s new chairman and had appointed board member Louis Camilleri as its new CEO. Four days later Marchionne died.

https://www.grandprix247.com/2017/12/18/marchionne-i-expect-much-more-from-ferrari-in-2018/