#the endless blunders of ferrari

[herohimbowhore]

The Eruption of Mount Vesuvius: An Allegory for Ferrari

Scuderia Ferrari holds the title as the oldest and most successful Formula 1 team, having competed in every season since 1950. Where others fell away, Ferrari has remained.

If you were to ask someone to say something about Ferrari, then there’s a few way it can go.

First, is perhaps the most common. Enzo Ferrari’s famous quote that was probably true for most of us. “Ask a child to draw a car, and certainly he will draw it red.” And Enzo Ferrari was correct. The first thought when asked about a red car or more specifically, a red sports car, is Ferrari. (And Lightning McQueen)

Then, maybe another well-known quote will come to mind. “Everybody is a Ferrari fan. Even if they say they’re not, they are Ferrari fans. Even if you go to the Mercedes guys and they say ‘Mercedes is the best brand in the world,’ they are Ferrari fan.” Sebastian Vettel said this in 2016 during one of Mercedes’ most contentious internal championship battles.

During the Monaco Grand Prix in 2022, Lewis Hamilton (the face of Mercedes in F1 himself) proved Sebastian’s statement true. During an interview with an Italian newspaper, Lewis said, “I would say one thing: if I could sit down with the fans on the bleachers over there, I would support Charles. I am a Ferrari fan.”

And if you’ve been watching Formula 1 for the past few years, then you’ll think of how the once great Scuderia has become a clown show. Questionable strategies, awfully hilarious pit stops, and great drivers with their potential wasted. All of it is a common occurrence within the Scuderia that we have grown to expect as fans and are shocked when their plans actually work out.

Contextualizing Ferrari with the song Pompeii by Bastille and the eruption of Mount Vesuvius seemed like the most coherent way to understand this downward spiral from a once great and lauded team to its current form.

Pompeii is one of the most well-known sites of a major volcanic eruption and a disastrous end to a once great city. Perhaps it is the perfect allegory for Scuderia Ferrari as we know it today.

Eh, eheu, eheu

Eh, eheu, eheu

Eh, eheu, eheu

“Eh, eheu, eheu,” at first may just sound like a vocally beautiful start to a song about a tragedy forever remembered and memorialized in ash. But it is a Latin phrase, roughly translating to, “eh, alas, alas.” The phrase is an exclamation of pain, grief, and fear. It is an exclamation that many fans of the Scuderia can relate to. With every race weekend, there is fear of what may go wrong this time and grief at how badly it does go.

I was left to my own devices

Many days fell away with nothing to show

The city of Pompeii, before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, was a wealthy city. The residents, or at least some of them, lived luxurious lives with little responsibilities.

Ferrari, on a similar note, has rested on its storied history and has enjoyed luxuries that the other teams in Formula 1 do not get.

Ferrari has competed in every season of Formula 1 since the 1950 World Championships. Due to this, they have over 1000 race entries and status as a long-standing team.

One privilege given to Ferrari is the "historic bonus" from prize money. Despite not winning the constructors' championship, Ferrari tends to get more prize money at the end of the season than the winners. Since the 2021 regulation changes, Ferrari has received $35 million. Before 2021, the LST payment was $70 million, half of which was deducted from the prize money pool.

Another privilege enjoyed by Ferrari is the power to veto rule changes that won't benefit Ferrari or the sport as a whole. Thus, giving Ferrari more power than any other team in Formula 1.

Ferrari obtained the power to veto regulation back in 1980 as a means to keep them in Formula 1. During the renegotiations of the Concorde Agreement in 2019, Ferrari was able to retain the veto power. However, a key thing to note is that the veto power is used sparingly by Ferrari. It was last used in 2015 when Ferrari vetoed the FIA's plans to introduce a €12 million engine price cap. The proposal at the time had gotten a majority vote by the teams before the veto was utilized by the Scuderia.

So, Ferrari has gotten these unique luxuries and privileges for being an integral part to Formula 1 and the history it has within the sport. But despite all of this, there is "nothing to show for it" these past few years. Since the days of Michael Schumacher at the team came to an end, the Scuderia has been on a downward spiral.

You could argue that 2007 was a good year, they won both championships, didn't they? But, were it not for McLaren's Spygate scandal and then McLaren drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, more focused on beating one another, it's highly unlikely that the championships would have gone to Ferrari.

And the walls kept tumbling down in the city that we love

Grey clouds roll over the hills bringing darkness from above

Before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, there were signs signaling that the volcano's period of dormancy was coming to an end. Most notably, in 62 AD, 17 years before the eruption, there was a major earthquake that devasted Pompeii and the surrounding region. The earthquake caused damage to buildings, with some of them collapsing, and a disruption to the water supply in the city. Now, we know that it was the first indication of Vesuvius awakening. Seventeen years later, when Vesuvius erupted, Pompeii was still rebuilding from the earthquake in 62 AD and the ongoing tremors that it had endured since then.

Regardless of how much time residents of Pompeii spent rebuilding after 62 AD, they never really were able to because ongoing tremors and quakes kept the walls tumbling down.

These days, as fans and spectators of the sport, we expect to see some sort of Ferrari blunder when it comes to pit stops or strategies. Monaco 2022's double-stack pit stop that cost Charles Leclerc a win at his home race comes into mind, or maybe Austin 2023 when Charles Leclerc was put on a one-stop strategy that took him from pole position to sixth place before disqualification due to the plank, or any number of impeding penalties that Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have gotten due to their team not relaying the information to them.

But just like the 62 AD earthquake in Pompeii and subsequent tremors, signs of Ferrari's downward spiral could be seen soon after the end of the Schumacher era.

We could think back to the Japanese Grand Prix in 2007 as Ferrari driver, Kimi Raikkonen, was in a championship fight with the McLaren drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. The wet weather conditions of the Grand Prix required that extreme wet weather tyres be used. However, both Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa were forced to pit so the tyres could be changed after the race had started under the safety car. While Kimi was able to finish 3rd, it did put him 17 points behind in the championship.

Another major blunder shortly after the Schumacher era that comes to mind, is the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. A highly contentious race for many different reasons. You may recall Singapore 2008 for Nelson Piquet Jr. crashing, Fernando Alonso taking the win, and the entirety of the Crashgate saga with Renault. But as Crashgate was occurring, Ferrari was doing as Ferrari does.

In 2008, it was once more a McLaren driver and a Ferrari driver battling for the championship with Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa, respectively. When Nelson Piquet Jr. crashed and a safety car was brought out, many drivers chose to pit as there is less time lost during the pit stop. Felipe Massa, three seconds ahead of his championship rival, Lewis Hamilton, chose to pit. But unlike Lewis Hamilton and other drivers who had decent pit stops, Ferrari released Felipe too early with the fuel hose still attached to his car. A Ferrari mechanic was dragged along with the fuel hose and Felipe had to stop at the pit lane exit to release the hose. Thankfully, the mechanic was okay, but Felipe's race was compromised and the race ended with Lewis in the championship lead.

We were caught up and lost in all of our vices

In your pose as the dust settled around us

When Mount Vesuvius erupted, material from the volcano covered the residents of Pompeii who had not been able to escape the city. A common image that comes to mind when thinking of this is the stone bodies covered in lava that cooled and retained the shape. However, as the lava cooled around the dead, the bodies decomposed until there was a void left in those shapes. Since the 1860s, archaeologists and scientists have used the negative space in the rocks to recreate replicas of bodies with plaster.

The dead of Pompeii were left in this void and stasis. As are so many of the drivers who came to Ferrari with hopes of winning with the Scuderia, wanting to bring back glory to Maranello, and do as Michael Schumacher once did.

Felipe Massa, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel.

They all joined Ferrari with hopes of winning the championship with the red team and all of them left with their dreams unfulfilled. An empty void of their potential was decaying from the inside as Ferrari continued to make endless blunders and not deliver cars that could win the championship.

But regardless of it all, nothing ever changes in the Scuderia. They're still caught up in the historic past as the dust settles and drivers with great potential leave.

Oh, where do we begin?

The rubble or our sins?

Oh, oh, where do we begin?

The rubble or our sins

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius was devasting for the city of Pompeii and the neighboring city of Herculaneum, but there were some survivors who were able to escape and relocate. Archaeologists have traced some survivors and figured out that they relocated to other cities with social and economic opportunities.

After disaster strikes, there is a question of what do we do first? Do we focus on the the physical things we can see like the rubble? Or the root causes of the disaster that we can't easily see?

Ferrari constantly treads this line of deciding what to focus on. Should they focus on the obvious with the pit stops, strategy, and car. Or the power struggles within the team and personnel.

The inner struggles within the team are endless.

Possible tensions between teammates Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz (which have been denied by both drivers, but instances during race weekends kind of make it seem like there is some tension - especially when it comes to qualifying orders)

The Sainz camp beefing with Charles Leclerc: Carlos' mother liking tweets about Charles not having honor, Carlos' father declaring "war" on Charles by saying that it's always Carlos that has to follow team orders and team orders are non-existent when Charles is behind.

The Lapo Elkann tweet about Santander, the Spanish bank that joined as a sponsor after Carlos Sainz joined the team

Departures of staff and Team Principal Fred Vassuer saying that Ferrari is "miles away" from a perfect structure

Ferrari has internal and external problems that they have to deal with before they can have a successful season. It's very obvious that the car isn't fast, the pit stops tend to be awful, and the strategy is rarely good, but there are also so many internal problems with fights for power in the Scuderia.

But if you close your eyes

Does it almost feel like nothing changed at all?

And if you close your eyes

Does it almost feel like you've been here before?

How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

If you close your eyes

Does it almost feel like nothing changed at all?

In the four days leading to the eruption, the city of Pompeii experienced small earthquakes that continued to increase in frequency. However, as stated above, small earthquakes and tremors were commonplace in the Campania region where Pompeii was. So, for the thousands of residents, it wasn't a sign of death and destruction and life continued on as it normally did. Until Vesuvius erupted and there was nothing to be optimistic about, giving into the grief and pain.

At this point, after nearly twenty years of watching as Ferrari fumbles and destroys the hopes of its drivers and fans, it has come to be commonplace to expect the least from Ferrari. Pole positions are things of dread, double-stack pit stops are nightmare fuel, and openly fans think that drivers should leave the team if they want any chances of winning.

But yet, there is hope.

A look back to Monza 2023, when the Tifosi surrounded Charles Leclerc. The crowd sang "Leclerc bring us the Championship," having complete faith in the driver who went through the ranks from the Ferrari Driver Academy and made his way to Ferrari after just one year in Formula 1.

And it's not just the Tifosi that have faith and resilience in the face of what should be a demoralizing downward spiral from the heights of greatness with Michael Schumacher. Charles Leclerc continues to push and put the car where it shouldn't be with 4 pole positions this season. Making it the second most pole positions for a driver this season, only behind Max Verstappen's 11 pole positions. Always striving for more and not settling for being in the midfield.

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius and Scuderia Ferrari are two Italian tragedies nearly 2,000 years apart. Echoes of one another despite only having an Italian background in common.

#formula 1 #f1 through music #ferrari #charles leclerc #sebastian vettel #carlos sainz #kimi raikkonen #felipe massa #the endless blunders of ferrari #pompeii #mount vesuvius #downward spiral at ferrari #inner power struggles at Ferrari #two italian tragedies millenniums apart #using history to explain formula 1

[torentialtribute]

Formula One 2019 season preview – is this Lewis Hamilton’s toughest Mercedes title defence yet?

Lewis Hamilton will be looking at six of the best as he prepares to defend his drivers championship ahead of the new Formula One season.

The five-time world champion is again favorite to leave his rivals for dust over the 21-race campaign that starts at this weekend's Australian Grand Prix and ends at the Abu Dhabi desert in December

But there are stories all over the 10-team, 20-driver grid and ahead of another season Sportsmail's reporters look at the key questions.

     Lewis Hamilton won his fifth world championship at the Mexican Grand Prix in 2018

Will Hamilton facing his toughest fight yet at Mercedes to defend his title?

JONATHAN McEVOY: From outside the team, yes, but there will be no repeat of the internal battle with Nico Rosberg that needled him so much. Ferrari seem strong and Red Bull will develop well under design guru Adrian Newey’s hand. It should be a good fight.

JOE DOWNES: Yes, because for the first time his best may not be good enough. Ferrari have the quicker car again, but will have learned from last year's strategy and development blunders and appear more united under Mattia Binotto.

DAN RIPLEY: The last couple or seasons have seen Ferrari and the Mercedes front row monopoly, and now they may have the edge. Hamilton is in his toughest campaign since his first season at Mercedes but he will still be at the front.

     Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes appeared to be slightly off the pace of Ferrari in winter testing

MATTHEW SMITH: Every winter we suggest the rest of the field are catching up with Mercedes, and every season the German steamroller carries on regardless. Hamilton has his ruthless eye on history and, as much as the fan in me wants to see a tight title battle, championship No. 6 looks to be on the cards.

NATHAN SALT: I don't think so. While Ferrari have been smart in recruiting Charles Leclerc, he lacks experience competing at the front of the grid. Sebastian Vettel remains his biggest threat but errors appear to be creeping into German's drives if last season is anything to go by.

How under threat is Bottas at Mercedes given how much of a team player is he?

JM: Bottas should not be there now. He clearly failed last year. But he suits Lewis and makes for an easy life. Just allowing for that I think he needs to buck up if he is to survive the cut again.

JD: He insists he can beat Lewis. He can't. One-year rolling deal proves he's simply keeping the second seat warm and they're queuing up to take it. Esteban Ocon is first in line.

     Valtteri Bottles went the whole of the 2018 season without a win for title winners Mercedes

F1 2019 CALENDAR

Mar 17: Australia (Melbourne)

Mar 31: Bahrain (Sakhir)

Apr 14: China (Shanghai)

Apr 28: Azerbaijan (Baku)

May 12: Spain (Catalunya)

May 26: Monaco (Monte Carlo)

Jun 9: Canada (Montreal)

Jun 23: France (Paul Ricard)

Jun 30: Austria (Spielberg)

Jul 14: Great Britain (Silverstone)

Jul 28: Germany ( Hockenheim)

Aug 4: Hungary (Budapest)

Sep 1: Belgium (Spa)

Sep 8: Italy (Monza)

Sep 22: Singapore (Marina Bay)

Sep 29: Russia (Sochi)

Oct 13 : Japan (Suzuka)

Oct 27: Mexico (Mexico City)

Nov 3: United States (Texas)

Nov 17: Brazil (Sao Paulo)

Dec 1: Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)

DR: Strangely I consider his role close to perfect. Quick enough to bag points but passive enough to never rock the boat and hurt Hamilton's season the way Nico Rosberg used to. Why would Mercedes risk losing that dynamic by drafting in Ocon for instance, who loves a squabble with a fellow driver (ask Perez or Verstappen)?

MS: Bottas is in an odd situation – he's in this race seat for what he brings to his team mate, rather than what he can provide as a driver in his own right. I feel Mercedes wants to bring Esteban Ocon into the No 2 seat next season, unless the Finn produces a marked improvement on last season.

NS: In short: not much. Hamilton must love having a "wingman" like Bottas with him at Mercedes. The Finn took issue with Toto Wolff's use of that in Hungary last season but it is true. Unlike predecessor Nico Rosberg, Hamilton can rest easy knowing Bottas will never put himself above the team. Bring back Nico.

How much of a 'plague could Charles Leclerc be to Sebastian Vettel's title challenge?

JM: Vettel has been given a public indication he is No 1. It remains to be seen how Leclerc operates in the more rarefied air of Ferrari – a different proposition from Sauber. I think Vettel, refreshed, will win the internal battle.

JD: This will determine the championship. Ferrari have their stall out early, insisting they will favor Vettel. The early races suit Ferrari and so, if Leclerc makes the better start, Binotto will have an almighty headache. The 21-year-old is a future world champion and subservience does not make a champion. Just ask Seb.

DR: I'm convinced he has brought in to replace Vettel and not Raikkonen, with the German instead of taking Kimi's No 2 spot in the long run. Not that Ferrari will admit that. To me, Ferrari lost faith with Vettel and his endless mistakes last term and have already made their move to start building the team around the Monegasque.

     Sebastian Vettel (left) has a new Ferrari team mate in Charles Leclerc (second right)

MS: I think this could be the story of the season. Leclerc was electrifying at times in a poor Sauber car last season. If he hits the ground running, I can't see how Ferrari can force him to play second fiddle to Vettel, especially if the German does not pick up from his 2018 slump. Don't rule out a Leclerc title bid.

NS: A real plague. You would be hard pressed to find an F1 fan who was not impressed why Leclerc's rookie season with Sauber. He regularly exceeded expectations in qualifying and with a far more competitive car at his disposal this season.

Will Max Verstappen finally have the machinery to launch a bid for the title?

JM : We'll soon find out. But from testing they look third-quickest. The Honda engine is three per cent down on the Mercedes. No.

JD: He's better placed without Ricciardo and Renault but, while Honda power should see them close the gap, boss Christian Horner admits reliability is a big unknown in the first year of their partnership. Like last year, expect the odd win and the odd blow up (from car and driver).

DR: Status quo I'm afraid for Max. Another great Red Bull chassis which just lacks the power unit punch behind it to trouble Mercedes and Ferrari on a regular basis. Still, it's good to see Honda looking like they've caught up a bit. F1 needs them to succeed.

     Max Verstappen may be restricted to another year of trying to pick up just a few race wins

MS: If engine suppliers Honda go from their embarrassment with McLaren to title winners at Red Bull, that would be among the greatest turnarounds in F1 history. Verstappen seems to finally have his attitude in the right place (the Ocon confrontation was the exception rather than the rule). He is ready but are Red Bull?

NS: Getting away on record last August pinpointing 2020 as his best chance of a maiden world title but he is not a character happy to watch his rivals coast to the world championship. He's managed to weed out some silly errors from his drives and I just hope he's provided with a competitive – and ultimately reliable – car.

What chance do McLaren have a five-year stage drought ending?

JM: McLaren may luck in a stage but that's their only chance, I fear. They will be better than last season but that's not saying much.

JD: Unless there's another crazy race in Baku, no chance. They're finally turning the corner, but just scoring points is tough given how tightly packed the midfield is.

DR: McLaren are heading in the right direction at long last but they look only capable of marginal gains this term. They could benefit from a Wacky Races type GP to land a stage but they should focus more on beating Renault for now.

     McLaren enjoyed a productive winter testing program but still lay behind the front teams

MS: Unless they've been holding back in testing, regular top-down 10 finishes are more likely to be the goal unless they get a lucky break in a one-off race. Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz are both quick, but making the top three is a huge ask.

NS: Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull possess such an advantage over their rivals it looks increasingly difficult for McLaren to bridge the gap after such a poor season. I expect a much-improved season but it is too soon for an end to the stage drought.

Which new Briton on the block is the best set for his rookie year?

JM : George Russell – a bit older and wiser than Lando Norris, perhaps.

JD: Norris has the best car and will score most points, but George Russell will emerge with most credit. So terrible is his Williams that, to a large extent, the pressure is off. Expect him to outperform teammate Robert Kubica.

DR: Norris could end up getting a beat by Sainz and still have the possibility of claiming a productive first year. For Russell, hey, has no measure. Beat Kubica, or even thrash him, and he's only seen off a severely hampered team mate. No-win situation really for George, and that's before we mention the mess Williams are in!

     Lando Norris (left) and George Russell make their F1 debuts after impressing in F2

MS: George Russell beat Lando Norris to the F2 title last year and is just as talented as the more heralded 18-year-old, perhaps because he is a more reserved character. However he may be down by being in a poor Williams. I'd be back Norris as the more likely at this stage.

NS: I just cannot bring myself to go on record and put Williams as the best in anything right now – apologies George Russell. The only way appears to be up for McLaren and Norris has shown his qualities in F2 – he's ready to make the step up.

Whose 'make or break' year is bigger at Renault – Ricciardo or Hulkenberg?

JM: Both are mid-tablers. Neither, for their commendable talents, is in demand by a top team. I think Ricciardo will see out his Renault contract and then walk away. He is building a property portfolio in America and that may grow into a preoccupation.

JD: Ricciardo. Must pounce whenever the big three teams fail and finish best of the rest – seventh – in drivers' standings to prove Renault's project is on track and his move from Red Bull was shrewd not stupid.

DR: This is it now for Hulkenberg. The chance to prove he can take on the big names in F1 – and maybe, just maybe land that overdue stage and finally catch the eye of a big team. Ricciardo has at least two years to get it right at Renault but time is running out for Nico.

     Nico Hulkenberg (left) and Daniel Ricciardo will battle each other as Renault team-mates

MS: Ricciardo. The risk the Australian has tasks is career defining. If he can drag Renault onto the stage then the deserves to be seen as one of the great drivers of the 21st century. If not, then he is set for obscurity.

NS: I am not convinced F1 fans are expecting much more from Hulkenberg. He's legally competent and has out-qualified both Jolyon Palmer and Carlos Sainz in his last two seasons. Ricciardo was in a conversation for a Ferrari or Mercedes spot at one time and he will be expected to carve himself out as the side's undisputed No. 1.

How does Kubica make a success of his comeback at a struggling Williams?

JM: Just being on the grid is a victory. What a fabulous recovery. Beating his Williams team-mate Russell would do.

JD: Needs a miracle, but that's his business. Beating Russell and a double-figure points haul would represent a stellar comeback season. Don't think he will do either.

DR: I just want Kubica to be competitive, and that means keeping Russell honest and bagging a few points over the season. I'm not expecting much given he has effectively driven one handed.

     Many Robert One fans will be hoping Robert Kubica can make a success of his comeback after a serious hand injury saw him drop out of the sport in 2011

MS: Growing up, Kubica was my favorite driver. I loved his attacking skill, his bravery, the underdog edge that came with driving for BMW rather than a more fashionable team. But the numbers don't lie – he is well off the pace. He needs time, reliability and consistency – and in a troubled team, I really fear this could turn into a nightmare.

NS: Much depends on the car he is provided with. Williams have bone dismal at best recently and have bone certainties to prop up the grid. Out performing rookie team mate George Russell wants to be the minimum he will expect of himself.

What are you tipping for a big surprise this season?

JM: I don't know what it will be but it may come this weekend in Melbourne. This place can throw up strange results.

JD: Alfa Romeo. Closer partnership with Ferrari, aggressive car design which looked quick through the corners in testing and the Kimi factor. A dangerous unknown quantity – how very Alfa.

     Veteran Kimi Raikkonen has joined Alfa Romeo for 2019 following five seasons with Ferrari

DR: It's been rubbish for far too many years now, but we are long overdue a decent Monaco Grand Prix. Whether it comes in the form of a sprinkling or rain of some tire-related shenanigans I don't know but it would certainly be a surprise wouldn't it?

MS: Leclerc will finish above Vettel in the overall drivers points, Raikkonen will earn at least one podium for Alfa Romeo, and Alexander Albon – effectively an emergency choice for Toro Rosso – will be in and around the top 10 on a regular basis.

NS: I will go with Pierre Gasly. This one could come back to bite me but I expect Red Bull to make a real go of it this year and Gasly showed enough in spells in the Toro Rosso last year to suggest he can rise to the challenge.

Where are the championships heading?

JM: Drivers title: Hamilton. Constructors: Ferrari.

JD: I'm sold. Vettel and Ferrari.

     Hamilton once again goes into the season as a favorite to win the world championship

DR: Hamilton to win the drivers crown in a final race Abu Dhabi showdown but Ferrari to pinch the constructors' title.

MS: Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton. Where else?

NS: Mercedes. Hamilton is still the man and if I was a betting man that is where my money would go. As a pairing I prefer the Ferrari pair – Bottas unselfishness infuriates me – but I fully expect Mercedes to be another double.

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#Formula One 2019 season preview – is this Lewis Hamilton’s toughest Mercedes title defence yet?"