Formula 1 legend Gerhard Berger, who had two stints at the Scuderia in the 80s and 90s, believes that Ferrari’s current problems cannot be blamed on the drivers but rather on the lack of top personnel within the team.
According to Berger, attracting talent to Maranello is a challenge, as potential hires are concerned about the team’s ability to win.
He also notes that other big teams like Mercedes, Aston Martin, and even Audi are actively trying to lure engineers away from Red Bull.
Berger even speculates that recent rumours linking Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari may have been strategically planted by Maranello to attract engineers from Mercedes.
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“You have to convince people to move to Maranello and that’s not easy,” Berger told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“They are concerned that they cannot win there.
“There are also other big teams now, such as Mercedes, Aston Martin and even the up-and-coming Audi, who are also trying to attract engineers from Red Bull.
“Sometimes certain strategic moves can be used to attract engineers, in this case from Mercedes.”
The Austrian driver is adamant that Ferrari’s real problem does not lie with the drivers, including Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, whom he describes as exceptionally strong.
He asserts that the team’s struggles in 2022 and beyond are not due to the drivers’ skills but rather stem from broader issues.
Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion and son of the late Ferrari legend Gilles Villeneuve, echoes Berger’s sentiments.
He believes that Ferrari’s current crisis is not a new occurrence and urges observers to consider the team’s history.
Villeneuve criticizes Ferrari’s constant changes in direction, lack of a solid foundation, and a tendency to shift blame rather than take responsibility.
“Don’t just look at this year,” Villeneuve told Le Journal de Montreal.
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“When you keep changing direction as they do, you never have a base to work from. And we see that everyone passes the buck. It’s never anyone’s fault.
“There is no decision making and this instability is costing Ferrari dearly. Over the last ten years they chose to go back to their roots and be an Italian team but it doesn’t seem to work, especially in Formula 1.
“In the process, the team has lost good people and rebuilding all this takes a lot of time,” Villeneuve added.