Ferrari big boss Sergio Marchionne was his team’s worst enemy in 2016 and that was before the season even began.
No doubt he is an incredibly clever person, a superb businessman and all that – but damn he is very stupid when it comes to Formula 1.
His demands and expectations were hilarious, but at the same time lethal for the well being of Ferrari. Untold pressure from the very top resulted in what an insider termed an atmosphere of fear within Maranello.
Marchionne’s drivel, as detailed below, was incredibly naive:
In December he trumpeted at the team’s Christmas party: “The balance sheet of Ferrari is good. What we need now is results on the track. It is important to win the first race of the season in Australia.”
A few days later he had a swipe at Fernando Alonso: “In only one year, I can say he became more of a Ferrarista than Alonso did in five years.”
In January he again declared, “We want to present ourselves in Australia as the team to beat. We know that our rivals are strong, but we are not afraid of them as we are the most successful team in the history of Formula 1.”
Adding a day later: “We are not afraid of anyone so let’s see what happens in Melbourne.”
On the eve of the first pre-season test he teased: “It’s a great car and we’ll see it on track on Monday. The team have worked on it for a year and are much more optimistic than last year.”
By April it was clear that the Ferrari was a lemon, but the capo remained bullish: Ferrari and Fiat president Sergio Marchionne says the 2016 Formula 1 world championship title is still within Ferrari’s reach.
“Absolutely,” Marchionne told Bild newspaper. “Of course I still believe in the title. We have to admit that these engines are complex and reliability is a problem that concerns everyone, including Mercedes, as we have seen. It is a sign that they are under pressure too.”
In May he was totally deluded: “We must close the gap at the speed of light. I am used to seeing the Ferrari of Schumacher so it hurts my soul to see a Ferrari that suffers.”
And added: “The drivers’ title? I think we deserve it. Not because we are smarter, but simply as a reflection of the work we did in 2015.”
By June he was just spewing for the sake of spewing and contradicting himself: “Results don’t happen overnight, and we need time to bring about tangible results that will like come in 2017. All this is about the future, but results are needed now.”
In August he became agitated: “Anyone at Ferrari not delivering results must leave, including myself. We are obligated to achieving the goals we have set ourselves.”
By September the penny finally dropped: “We failed the targets. I don’t think there’s a doubt in my mind.”
Then out of the blue, in November, he startled everyone when he told media: “I’m going to tell you something honestly.I think I’ve thrown all the money I like to throw at that thing [F1].”
Then finally sense prevailed: “We need to give the guys time: they are working very well and we will see what they bring us, but I believe this is the solution.”
Too late he gets our Villain of the Year Award.
Read the full story at GRAND PRIX 247
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