Following Mattia Binotto’s departure as Ferrari team principal, ex-Formula 1 driver Giedo van der Garde has given an insight into what former Alfa Romeo boss Frederic Vasseur is like to work with, with the Frenchman switching to Maranello in 2023.
Van der Garde worked with Vasseur during his junior racing days, meaning he has a great understanding of what the experienced leader will demand from his team at Ferrari.
The first thing that Vasseur will have to do, though, is get the Italians employees onboard with his plans, with Binotto having very much defended his team at all costs.
The Maranello-based outfit made an extraordinary number of strategic errors in 2022, which resulted in Binotto being pressured to perhaps switch the team’s strategic personnel.
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Throughout the campaign, Binotto refused to make in-house tweaks, with Ferrari’s chairman, John Elkann having perhaps lost trust in the Italian as a result of that.
Van der Garde is certain that Binotto was given a choice by the team’s hierarchy, resign, or be sacked.
“I think they gave him a choice: either we say we’ve thrown you out, or we do it in a nice way and you say you’ve resigned yourself,” he said.
“And so it ended up being the second one. But it was clear that he had to leave. He is a very nice guy and has built a very good car, but Ferrari did throw away some wins this year. And whichever way you look at it, he was responsible for that as team boss.”
Vasseur will likely bring a new mentality to Ferrari, with the Frenchman being hailed as a “true leader” by Van der Garde, something Binotto was not.
The Dutchman is convinced that Vasseur’s personality and mentality will work extremely well at Ferrari, with the former Alfa Romeo team principal being someone who “doesn’t like bullsh*t”.
With that in mind, Vasseur will likely make personnel changes should the team continue to make strategic errors in 2023, with the Frenchman always striving for the “best possible performance”.
“Vasseur put the right people in the right place [at Alfa Romeo-Sauber],” said Van der Garde.
“He is a true leader and will be able to take Ferrari to new heights. He’s someone who can bang his fist on the table and doesn’t like bullsh*t. He can be tough. That is why I really think he is the right man for Ferrari.
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“He always tells it like it is. He does not play political games, but is straightforward. If someone is not functioning well, he can be very rigorous and say: either you will do better, or you will be replaced by someone else. He always goes for the best possible performance. And as a Ferrari team boss you have to project that.
“Binotto is very professional and has done some really good things at Ferrari in recent years, but it’s also about winning mentality, and that is much more present with Vasseur.
“He will have to look at the complete picture, address the points that did not go well last season and, just like with Alfa, put the right people in the right place. That will take some time, but give him that time.”