Leclerc: This is the truth of our current situation.
Alessandro Benetton, a former personality in Formula 1, asserts that Ferrari's ongoing difficulties stem from a lack of leadership, as frustrations peaked once again in Singapore. The team faced yet another disappointing weekend, with Fernando Alonso—who used to drive for Ferrari—expressing his frustration over the radio after an incident with his former rival, Lewis Hamilton.
"I can't f*cking believe it," Alonso exclaimed multiple times as Hamilton's Ferrari struggled with malfunctioning brakes and veered off the track. "You can’t drive like that. No respect for the red flag yesterday. Today, they think they own the track."
Hamilton received a penalty for his actions, but Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur downplayed the incident, stating, "Everything was fine from a safety standpoint. We adjusted our pace accordingly. It wasn’t about Lewis going crazy on the last lap. He was 30 seconds slower. From a safety perspective, he was on the right side of the fence."
Isack Hadjar, a rookie who had previously battled Alonso on the track, remarked that Alonso seemed to be in a bad mood based on his comments regarding their own encounter. "If he didn’t enjoy that fight, he’s very grumpy, and I can’t do anything for him," he said with a smile.
However, the attention remains on Ferrari's fundamental performance issues. Charles Leclerc acknowledged the low morale within the team. "I don’t think there’s anything in the car right now that convinces me we’re going to make progress," he stated. "This is the reality of our situation at the moment. I genuinely don’t know how to change it since we don’t have any new components or anything like that. Red Bull made two advancements in the first half of the season and another significant leap in Monza. Now Mercedes seems to have caught up as well, while we are still searching for a solution."
Benetton, who managed the family’s F1 team from 1988 to 1998 before selling it to Renault, informed Sky Italia that Ferrari's issues reflect a vacuum in leadership. "It happens in companies that the drive to progress halts and growth stagnates, but there must always be someone who can shine and make a difference, inspiring the team," he explained. "I believe that during times of change, companies must identify leaders capable of making an impact. I don’t have a specific person in mind for Ferrari, but such figures are essential to motivate the team."
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