Luca di Montezemolo defended Fred Vasseur after the criticism aimed at the Ferrari team principal following the Dutch Grand Prix and took the opportunity to criticize the top management of the group.
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The former president of the Scuderia believes that the real problem does not lie in the absence of instructions between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Zandvoort, but in the lack of support that Vasseur would have at the top of Ferrari.
Montezemolo, former head of the prancing horse brand after having been responsible for the Scuderia himself, thus settles his scores with John Elkann, the current president of Ferrari, whom he accuses of having supported the decision to remove him in 2014 taken by Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne.
Vasseur under criticism
At Zandvoort, the management of the two drivers raised questions. Hamilton, better placed in the championship and closing in on Leclerc with fresher tires, had not received an instruction allowing him to quickly overtake his teammate.
A decision that fueled criticism towards Vasseur, while the Briton remains engaged in the fight for the world title.
Montezemolo however considers that the debate goes far beyond this episode: “After the last race in the Netherlands, I heard criticism of Fred Vasseur because he did not give a team order between Hamilton and Leclerc. But beyond this episode, we should all ask ourselves with whom the French leader can communicate within the company.”
Montezemolo recalls the Todt-Schumacher era
To illustrate his point, the former president of Ferrari went back to one of the most controversial periods in the recent history of the Scuderia. At the time when Jean Todt was leading the team, Ferrari did not hesitate to impose a very clear hierarchy when the sporting interests of the team required it (or not, by the way). Montezemolo notably mentions the orders given to Rubens Barrichello in favor of Michael Schumacher.
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“I don’t want to seem nostalgic, but I remember that when Todt, in Austria, ordered Barrichello to let Schumacher win because, whether it was fair or not in the eyes of the public, it was in the interest of the team, the Brazilian complained a lot,” he recalls.
Montezemolo says he then personally supported the decision of his team principal and reminded Barrichello that Ferrari’s interests came first: “ I, who was the president, called him and told him: I represent Ferrari, you are one of our employees. If Todt’s decisions don’t suit you, you can always look for another team.”
“Who would have his back?”
It is precisely this institutional support that Montezemolo believes Vasseur lacks today. The Frenchman has to manage two top drivers, including Hamilton, still capable of competing for the championship. Making a decision in favor of one of the two could provoke a major controversy, especially when it involves asking Leclerc to sacrifice a position.
For Montezemolo, a team principal must be able to make such decisions knowing that his hierarchy will publicly support him: “I feel Vasseur’s loneliness. Who would have his back if he had to make a decision, perhaps even unpopular?”
The former president therefore does not directly blame Vasseur for the lack of orders at Zandvoort. He mainly believes that Ferrari must give him enough authority and support to allow him to make difficult decisions when the team’s interest requires it.
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