Ralph Schumacher claims Ferrari is still paying a price for the all-Italian team design created by Sergio Marchionne. The German feels that even in 2023, the Scuderia continues to accuse the nation of past decisions and without looking at talent.
Schumacher does not believe Ferrari’s current problems lie with the car, but with some past political decisions. Marchionne, the president of the brand before he lost his life in 2018, wanted a fully Italian team and this meant that in those days, people looked more at diplomacy than at skills. Ralph believes the Scuderia are yet to pay the consequences of their decisions.
“As far as the chassis and the engine are concerned, they did a good job, they are in good condition. More than anything it’s about warranty failures, pit stops and the design of the last season, the drivers were also wrong. Now, Vasseur has arrived at all this, but the political question remains” Schumacher he said in an interview with Auto Bild.
“I think Ferrari is still struggling with the announcement of Marchionne, who died in 2018 and announced that he would create an all-Italian team. Binotto did not lack technical expertise, but assertively. He was too close to do Ferrari justice. Opinions that are often sometimes unpleasant. The nation is not what matters , but what kind it is”, he insisted.
Schumacher remembers that Ferrari’s glory came in the early 2000s with a bunch of foreigners at the helm. Jean Todt gave the structure the necessary freedom to gradually grow to glory in five consecutive seasons. This year, he feels that he will not have to fight well for the World Cup.
“The most important thing in the glory years with my brother is that it was a wonderful competition. There as a driver with Jean Todt, Ross Brawn and Rory Bryne, they had the freedom they needed. This year I don’t know if they think they are in the fight or. For the champions of the world, when I wanted, they would give him extra tension,” Schumacher concluded.
