Vasseur targets a title – but have Ferrari learned their lessons from 2022? · RaceFans

There is no other team in Formula 1 so creative and gifted in generating heartbreak for their fans as Ferrari.

Memories of the halcyon days of the mid-2000s – where the scarlet team relentlessly rocked up to the F1 paddock ready to inflict heavy defeat upon their rivals every fortnight – were rekindled at the start of last season. Two wins out of three teased the Tifosi that they could finally imagine winning the grandest prize once again – until Max Verstappen and Red Bull turned Ferrari’s dream into a nightmare.

As brilliant as Red Bull were in 2022, it’s flattery to imply Ferrari’s defeat was entirely the making of the eventual world champions. It would even be kind to suggest Ferrari were simply beaten by the better team. They were, of course, but Ferrari’s self-sabotage was equally to blame for the countless crushed dreams of a first Maranello premiership in a decade-and-a-half.

But while a ruinous cocktail of baffling strategy calls, botched pitstops and ill-timed mechanical mishaps derailed Ferrari’s early season hype train, the reality is Ferrari never expected to be fighting for the titles last year. Mattia Binotto’s vision for his team always saw 2022 as a get-right year to re-establish themselves as race-winners – which they unquestionably succeeded in. Only Mercedes’ design misstep with their W13 elevated Ferrari to the position of Red Bull’s chief rivals, one which they clearly were not fully prepared to assume.

Whatever Binotto imagined for 2023 is no longer of consequence. Stepping aside at season’s end, Ferrari were in need of a bold, visionary leader to rally the troops and help prime them to battle for titles. They chose Frederic Vasseur.

To doubt Vasseur’s competence would be foolish. With wisdom forged through decades of experience operating racing teams, Vasseur knows uprooting Ferrari’s structure and rebuilding it in his image is not the way to go. Instead, Vasseur is playing the long game. By his own admission, he’ll cast his critical eye over the team’s first half of the season before he begins making wholesale changes to how they work, showing faith in the abilities of those now under his command.

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Vasseur also has immense belief in the two drivers under his stewardship. Reunited with Charles Leclerc after introducing him to Formula 1 at Sauber, Vasseur finds a far more experienced and skilled…