Stefano Domenicali has reminded his former employers Ferrari that past successes will not help them to return to the summit of Formula 1.
After a historic low point in 2020, when the team finished sixth, the Prancing Horse began to gallop again. They produced a car last year which had the performance to challenge for the championship – but Ferrari were thwarted by engine reliability woes and a string of costly strategy blunders.
Their latest creation, the SF-23, looked strong in pre-season testing – even if it struggled to deliver in the Bahrain race. The pressure will be on new boss Frederic Vasseur to deliver, as is always the case at Maranello.
That is despite a title drought which stretches back 15 years. The level of success which Ferrari has enjoyed in the past means that titles and trophies are always demanded even now, despite the fact they have not topped the championship for so long now.
Domenicali knows all about that pressure, having led the team between 2008 and 2014. Speaking to Sportmediaset, the F1 chief executive issued a reminder to his old team that it is entitled to nothing amid such strong competition.
He said: "Ferrari has always been a point of reference in Italy. However, the dimension of the Formula 1 world has changed – other teams and other drivers have grown. It's clear that when we talk about Ferrari in Italy we're talking about the national team that everyone supports and everyone has to support, but the competition is very strong.
"Saying 'we are Ferrari' is no longer enough. We need to work on the weak points in order to grow without becoming typically Italian and emotional . Only with determination can you get out of difficult situations.
"After just one race you can't be emotional, you have to stay focused and go ahead with your head down and try to solve the problems. Talk is cheap."
But Domenicali does have a positive outlook for Ferrari, adding: "From what I saw in practice in Sakhir, all the elements to be confident are there this year."
