Ferrari will forever be the most esteemed team in Formula 1, but what they truly desire at their headquarters in Maranello is to consistently triumph in races and reclaim championship titles. They long for a return to the glory days of the early 2000s, when Michael Schumacher and the formidable team supporting him dominated the sport.
However, statistics reveal that Ferrari has not won a Formula 1 title since Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen joined forces to win the Constructors’ title in 2008. Raikkonen’s individual title came a year earlier. Over the past fifteen years, Ferrari has failed to secure one of the two most significant prizes in motorsport.
This drought is not for lack of effort. After parting ways with Raikkonen, the Italian team hired the services of two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso to lead their charge. Despite coming agonizingly close, they fell short of their goal. Sebastian Vettel followed the same path but could not replicate the success he enjoyed at Red Bull, failing to secure the coveted Formula 1 title for Maranello.
However, all of this could change in 2025, when Lewis Hamilton joins Ferrari for the final chapter of his illustrious career at the peak of motorsport, as suggested by Jacques Villeneuve. “They tried with Vettel, but he was already burnt out when he got to Ferrari. Alonso came close to success, but the situation became too chaotic,” Villeneuve commented. “Lewis may be the one to finally bury Ferrari’s past. This could be Ferrari version 2.0, with the greatest driver of all time joining the greatest team of all time. It doesn’t get much better than this, especially at a time when Ferrari is desperate for a return to victory.”
Villeneuve expressed that Ferrari needs a positive turnaround after years of almost there, but has not been able to achieve it. Whether bringing in experienced world champions or young drivers like Leclerc or Sainz, the team always seems to be plagued by internal chaos. The team principal position changes every two years, causing more instability. Villeneuve, whose father was a Ferrari legend, lamented this situation.
Since 2014, Ferrari has had four different team principals: Marco Mattiacci (2014), Maurizio Arrivabene (2015-2018), Mattia Binotto (2019-2022), and Frédéric Vasseur from 2023 onwards. Wrong planning and naive thinking by Sergio Marchionne delayed the team. He intended to make Ferrari a truly “Made in Italy” team, hiring Italian engineering talents and dismissing foreigners. However, this strategy backfired.
Under the leadership of John Elkann, Ferrari is now looking at Luca di Montezemolo’s era as a model. They are following the example of their successful period under Jean Todt’s leadership, which included hiring a Frenchman. The failed “Made in Italy” experiment led them to reconsider and build an international team, seeking the best engineers and talents from around the world.
Villeneuve recalled the time when Ferrari tried to be exclusively Italian, getting rid of everything that was not Italian. However, this approach did not work. Now, they are once again hiring non-Italians and rebuilding an international team, aiming to acquire the best talents, regardless of their nationality. There are even reports that Ferrari is trying to bring in Englishman Adrian Newey to be part of their Hamilton-inspired Super Team.
“With Ferrari, there is always excitement due to the constant flow of news. If Lewis were to join the team, this could potentially bring stability to the complex situation they currently face. This could provide Ferrari with the foundation they need to progress,” speculated Villeneuve.
Throughout its history, Ferrari has always hired experienced drivers, including Formula 1 world champions. This strategy proved successful with the addition of Michael Schumacher, who won two Formula 1 titles before joining Ferrari and won another five championships during his time with the team. However, their attempts to replicate this success with drivers like Alain Prost, Alonso, and Vettel were ultimately unsuccessful.
Looking to the future, Villeneuve is intrigued by the possible move of Hamilton to Ferrari. He wonders if Hamilton will be able to achieve what Alonso and Vettel could not. Villeneuve initially doubted Vettel’s ability to succeed at Ferrari, but believed Alonso had a chance due to his closeness to victory and tenacity. Now, he sees Hamilton as a potential candidate to accomplish this feat.
Furthermore, Villeneuve is curious about the role Jock Clear will play in the team. He wonders if Clear will become Hamilton’s engineer, as this combination could be highly beneficial and increase the likelihood of success for Hamilton at Ferrari. Villeneuve himself experienced success with Clear as his engineer when he won the 1997 Formula 1 title with Williams.
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Neymar Jr. shines in PSG’s victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League
Neymar Jr. was the standout in Paris Saint-Germain’s victory over Real Madrid in a match valid for the UEFA Champions League. The Brazilian forward scored two goals and provided an assist, significantly contributing to his team’s triumph.
PSG started the game in a dominant fashion, putting pressure on Real Madrid from the early minutes. In the 20th minute of the first half, Neymar Jr. opened the scoring with a beautiful shot from outside the box. Shortly after, in the 30th minute, the Brazilian forward extended the lead, taking advantage of a precise cross from Mbappé.
In the second half, Real Madrid tried to react and reduce the gap in the scoreline, but they ran into PSG’s solid defense. In the 75th minute, Neymar Jr. showcased all his skill by providing a perfect assist for Icardi to score the third goal for the Parisian team.
With the victory, PSG takes the lead in Group B of the Champions League, with 6 points from 2 games played. Meanwhile, Real Madrid sits in second place with 3 points. The next match for both teams will be against Club Brugge from Belgium.
Neymar Jr. was named the best player on the field and received plenty of praise from the sports media. His brilliant performance was crucial for PSG’s victory and got the fans excited about the team’s performance in this season’s Champions League.
Paris Saint-Germain is now gearing up to face Club Brugge in a match that promises to be highly contested. With Neymar Jr. in great form, the French team aims to maintain their good momentum and secure another victory in the competition.
PSG fans are confident that the team can go far in the Champions League, and Neymar Jr.’s performance against Real Madrid only raised expectations. The Brazilian forward displayed all his talent and was decisive in securing the three points.
Now, all that’s left is to wait for the next games of Paris Saint-Germain and cheer for Neymar Jr. to continue shining and helping the team achieve its goals this season. The Champions League promises great emotions and PSG is determined to fight for the title.
